REAL TECHNIQUES MAKEUP BRUSHES BY PIXIWOO'S SAM CHAPMAN

I am going to start by saying that I love these brushes. I think they are great collections and amazing value for money. Since buying the Real Techniques Core Collection and Starter Set, I haven’t really reached for any other brush in my kit!

The brushes have been launched by Sam Chapman of Pixiwoo. Some of you may already be familiar with the youtube sensation that is Pixiwoo, but for those of you who aren't  Pixiwoo is  a makeup artist duo by the names of Sam and Nicola Chapman. If there was any makeup look out there that you wanted to create, but didn't know where to start or what products to use, guaranteed that Pixiwoo would have a video tutorial to help you out! If you wanted to know how to do a smokey eye, how to look like a bond girl or even the corpse bride, Pixiwoo has you covered. The girls are really great to watch and I have to say that I really enjoy their tutorials. There are a lot of tutorials on youtube, but I would highly recommend that you check out  the Pixiwoo Channel before looking elsewhere!

So, back to the brushes!

There are three collections, as well as, individual brushes to choose from and all are available at Boots stores and online. In fact, Boots currently have a ‘Buy one get one half price’ offer on at the moment, which includes these brushes! Bargain! What a perfect pre Christmas treat or gift idea! :) The Core Collection and Starter set are both currently priced at £21.99 each and I think the individual brushes start from about £6.99 each.

All of the brushes are made from Taklon, which is a synthetic material making them 100% cruelty free. Even though the brushes are synthetic, they are so incredibly soft and clean really easily. I have used them with both cream and powder products and I can’t really fault them. I’ve not experienced any fall out and I love that you can fold the brush case to make it stand up. If you want to know more about the brushes it would probably be best for you to visit the Real Techniques website at www.realtechniques.com.

The only problems I have are with the brow brush and pixel-point eyeliner brush… The brow brush is a little too thick for me and I find that I can’t quite get a precision brow with it. However, it is the perfect brush for smoking out gel liner with eye shadow for that smokey feline effect. It’s the perfect shape and density to really press the powder it and smoke it out easily. I have a similar issue with the pixel-point eye liner in that it doesn't really have a pixel point. The bristles are a little too long to control when applying gel liner and the thickness of the brush makes it hard to create a really fine line or pointed flick. My perfect gel liner brush will always be the Shu Umera 2R (Sable brush) .

BEAUTY HIGHLIGHT: FACE-LACE

I'm not sure if you have seen the video for Pink’s new song ‘Blow Me (One Last Kiss)’?? Aside from being a kick ass song, the video features Pink wearing a lace mask. Originally, I thought wow, that makeup artist must have one hell of a steady hand to be able to draw that on in such detail!! That was until I discovered that they had actually used Face Lace. 

Images taken from Face-lace.com

The creative genius behind this product is British Makeup Artist, Phyllis Cohen. She is a true artist and I have been a fan of her work since discovering she was the body painter behind the iconic Pink Floyd painted ladies.

Image taken from Phyllis Cohen's website

The product was launched at the Corrie Nielson Show at London Fashion Week 2012 and can now be purchased online at face-lace.com or from Harvey Nichols (it's cheaper to buy direct from Face Lace and they have a better selection of designs). The face lace designs are absolutely stunning and I'm so keen to get my hands on some!! They aren't a day-to-day wearable look, but they would be perfect for a costume party or masked ball! I really need an excuse to buy some!

RED LIPS: TIPS AND TRICKS

RED LIPS: TIPS AND TRICKS

One of my absolute fav red lipsticks is MAC’s Russian Red. It is a high pigment lipstick with a matt finish and lasts for hours!  Below are a few tips and tricks for creating the perfect red lip.

• Before starting your makeup apply a moisturising lip conditioner/lip balm and lightly exfoliate any dry skin using a tooth brush.
• When you are ready to apply your lipstick, take a tissue and blot off any oily residue left by your lip balm to avoid the lipstick slipping off.
• Apply a very small amount of your foundation over your lips to create a neutral base. This will make you lipstick colour more vibrate and help ensure a lasting finish.
• Just above your cupids bow, apply a small amount of pearlescent highlighter. This will make your lips look fuller and draw attention to the centre of your face.
• Starting at your cupids bow, create your desired lip shape using a red lip pencil. If you have thin lips or flat cupids bow, you can make them look fuller and create definition by taking the colour just outside of the lip line.
• After creating your desired shape, fill in the whole lip area with the liner.
• Creating a long lasting lip colour is all about layers! Apply your first coat of lip stick, gently pushing into your lip. Blot with tissue and repeat.
• Create a more defined lip and tidy up any mistakes using your concealer and small concealer brush.
• You can set your lipstick and create a matt finish by gently dusting over translucent setting powder.
• For a fuller and glossy finish, apply a small amount of red or clear gloss to the centre of you bottom lip, blend out and lightly put your lips together.

Vois là! Perfect red lips!

LAURA MERCIER: EYE BASICS EYE SHADOW

Laura Mercier products are excellent and I’m especially loving Eye Basics in Flax. I have worn this eye shadow nearly every day since I bought it and I’m really impressed with how long wearing it is. It’s so easy to apply, has good coverage and leaves a really nice soft finish. It doesn’t set completely matt, which I think makes it such a nice product to wear on its own. It’s also proven to be a great base for powder eye shadows and doesn’t crease at all throughout the day. Another great feature is that it doesn’t dry out the skin like some other primers.

Skin friendly ingredients enhance the delicate skin on the eye lids, botanicals soothe distressed lids, vitamins A, E and C provide anti-oxidant protection and eye bright offers anti-inflammatory and healing benefits.

There is an applicator brush included, but I wouldn’t suggest you put this straight on your eye. A little goes along way with this eye shadow, so pop a bit on the back of your hand and use your finger to blend in. You can always build up coverage if you think you need it and by applying it this way you will help keep it bacteria free.

There’s a range of about 8 neutral colours to choose from and a really amazing soft baby blue. It currently retails at about £20.50 from John Lewis, and is definitely a worthwhile 2-in-1 eye shadow/eye base investment.

If you’re wondering how it compares to Laura Mercier eye canvas, then I would say that the eye basics gives a lot better coverage. The eye canvas pots are quite sheer and don’t really cover imperfections or discolouration. It is a nice lightweight eye shadow and lasts really well, but I would always go for the eye basics. I also find that the canvas pots aren’t as easy to apply as the basics.  

HOLIDAY ESSENTIALS: BOBBI BROWN SPF 15 LIP BALM

I could not live without a lip conditioner. I use it religiously and feel lost without it. One year I made the terrible mistake of using quite a greasy lip balm on holiday, without an SPF and burnt my lips a treat! It was so awful… From that day onwards, I have always made sure that my lip balm has an SPF! It’s surprising to find that there are only a hand full of high end brands that have an SPF in their lip products.

If you are looking for a lip colour, tinted lip conditioner or lip balm visit L’Oreal, Benefit, Laura Mercier, Stila, MAC, YSL, Bobbi Brown and Clinique (even though the girl at the counter said that non of their products have any protection, I later found that their High Impact Lip Colour has SPF 15!). I find that some cheaper brands leave my lips looking white and aren’t very conditioning at all. Obviously, if you are surfing, skiing, mountain climbing etc you will need a high factor to stay protected, but I’m mostly talking about chilling on beaches, walking around markets and exploring towns/villages/cities.

One of my fav SPF 15 Lip balms is from Bobbi Brown. It comes in a fancy little silver tin, with screw top and smells like melons. It’s quite rich in texture, which I love and leaves lips conditioned for the best part of the day. It’s translucent in colour, but leaves a nice shine on the lips without feeling greasy.

It’s currently priced at £14 and is definitely a worthwhile holiday investment. Check out Bobbi Brown's website for up to date deals and offers http://www.bobbibrown.co.uk. They regularly offer free samples with orders over £50 and ship for free on orders of £35 or more.

MAKEUP BASICS: PRIMERS AND FILLERS

Apologies for the terrible photography skills. Also, not the best shot of the filler... What can I say, it's a well used part of my kit!

The rule is simple: If you don’t have a good base, you won’t achieve a good finish. 

Depending on your primer and skin type you may not need to use a moisturizer. If you do, go easy with it. Only apply as much as you think your skin needs. Applying too much moisturizer and not allowing enough time for it to absorb into your skin will cause your foundation to slip. Give it a couple of minutes and your foundation will sit better and last longer!

Primers and fillers can be a real benefit to your overall look and help maintain a lasting finish. There are some great products out there that help correct, refine and balance your skin, providing a perfect base for you foundation. Fillers are a must for those with acne scaring, wrinkles and large pores. The fillers act as a resurfacing tool and help smooth out imperfections. A great bargain buy is L'Oreal's Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer. I tend only to use this in area's of need rather than the whole face.

One of my favourite primers is from Laura Mercier. They have a great range of primers to suit all skin types. I regularly use the original ‘Foundation Primer’, as it is suitable for normal to combination skin, but they also have a hydrating, mineralize and oil control primer in their range. I have had clients in the past who suffer with very sensitive skin and have always found this product to work great.

If any of you out there have had a recent bad experience with the hydrating primer, don’t give up on the product just yet! I recently purchased this product and it ran out like water! When I went back to the counter, the assistant explained that there was a problem with the formula and she would exchange it right away.

NOTE: PRIMERS ARE NOT JUST FOR YOUR FACE! READ MY REVIEW ABOUT URBAN DECAY’S EYESHADOW PRIMER POTION! 

BEAUTY BREAKDOWN: POP OF PINK

PHOTOGRAPHER: JOE JENKINS 

MODEL: AIMEE RAMSEY

FACE:

YSL TOP SECRETS FLASH RADIANCE SKINCARE (read review)

MAC STUDIO FIX FOUNDATION - NW25

MAC LUSTRE DROPS – PINK REBEL

BOBBI BROWN CORRECTOR - LIGHT BISQUE

BOBBI BROWN CONCEALOR – SAND

MAC PREP + PRIME TRANSPARENT FINISHING POWDER

CHEEKS:

MAC BRONZING POWDER – GOLDEN

MAC POWDER BLUSH - WELL DRESSED

EYES:

URBAN DECAY EYESHADOW PRIMER POTION (read review)

MAC EYESHADOW – SHROOM, OMEGA, EMBARK

BOBBI BROWN SHIMMER WASH EYESHADOW (HIGHLIGHT) – BONE

MAC POWERPOINT EYE PENCIL – ENGRAVED

CLINIQUE LASH DOUBLING MASCARA – BLACK

EYLURE NATURALITES LENGTHENING STRIP LASHES – 116

LIPS:

MAC LIPSTICK – GIRL ABOUT TOWN

ACCESSORIES:

HEADBAND / EARRINGS – FREEDOM @ TOPSHOP       

MY KIT WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT: URBAN DECAY EYESHADOW PRIMER POTION

As you can see this is a very well used product of mine! Since purchasing the Urban Decay Primer Potion, I have never applied eyeshadow without it. I really can’t say enough great things about it and if you don’t have it, go get it! It’s priced at about £14.50, but it lasts for ages as you only need the smallest bit. The new design is great, before you had to use little wand and I found it hard to get the product off, but now with the easy-squeeze tube and needle point tip the product comes out real easy with no messing around.

You can get the primer in a couple of shades, but I always go for the original (purple tube shown above). It’s a nude shade, dries invisibly and suits every skin tone, which makes it a perfect pro artist product. This product gives your eyeshadow excellent staying power and never creases. Even if you don’t wear eyeshadow and prefer to stick with your trusty eyeliner above the eye, this product will help keep it in place all day.

It does help even the tone of your eye lid, but if you have concerns about visible veins and are looking for natural coverage, try the MAC paint pots. They are also very good and have a stronger pigment to provide better coverage.

How to use:

+ You shouldn’t need more than half a thumb nail to cover both eyes.

+ Apply a thin layer to your eyelids from the root of your eyelashes, right up to your brows.

+ Blend, blend, blend. Your eyeshadow will blend really easily over this primer and is will appear more vibrant, but if you don’t blend it in properly and miss bits, you will definitely notice a difference.

+ Make sure you give the product enough time to set. If you open your eyes too quickly after application you can sometimes get a faint line in your crease.

Tip: Give the tube a little shake every now and then. I have found on a rare occasion that the product can sometimes come out a little watery, but with a good shake it’s usually fine. 

In conclusion, this product is awesome and no makeup bag or artists kit should be without it!

PRIMERS: YSL TOP SECRETS FLASH RADIANCE SKINCARE VS MAC PREP + PRIME SKIN BASE VISAGE

Primers and Fillers are essential for a flawless and long lasting finish. There are some great products out there that can help correct, refine and balance your skin, providing a perfect base for your foundation. Fillers are particularly great for covering unwanted lines, scaring and large pores.

I recently purchased Yve Saint Laurent’s Top Secrets Flash Radiance after reading great reviews online. I’m not convinced on the brush applicator as it’s not particularly hygienic. I suppose if I were to use it on myself the brush would be useful, but I tend to apply primers with my fingers to really massage and push it into my skin. I’d much prefer if the product was maybe in a tube with a brush attachment option, as I find it quite difficult to judge how much product I am squeezing through the brush. I have had the odd occasion where I have squeezed out way more than required, with no way of putting it back!

http://www.yslbeautyus.com/

What is great about the primer is that the smallest bit goes along way and at approx £38 a tube, it is not something you want to run out of quickly! Overall, I don’t have too many bad things to say about it other than the brush and price. The light reflecting particles and caffeine really give the skin a boost and helps erase signs of fatigue. It feels like velvet to touch and goes on silky smooth. I tend to get a little oily throughout the day, but since using this primer I have found that it has really helped control this. My clients really love this product and always comment about how lovely it smells! It’s quite strongly fragranced, which isn’t to everyone’s taste, but personally I really like it and have had no complaints so far.    

I'm still unsure if I would purchase this again, largely due to the price. MAC have a very similar product available in their Prep + Prime range and is at a much more reasonable price of £18.50 (at time of post). The packaging of this product is great too and makes life really easy on shoots! One quick pump is usually enough for the whole face.

www.maccosmetics.co.uk

DIOR 5 COULEURS EYESHADOW IN ROSY TAN 754

I am so in love with my new Dior eye palette! Actually, as you can see from the picture, it’s not quite so new anymore. I have used it on so many clients already this year and they all loved it. I think this one is going to be a keeper.

It is easy to see why this is one of Dior’s ‘best selling palettes’. Described by Dior a “a seductive range of rich, versatile colours designed for easy application and long wear”, it certainly does what it says on the tin. While the pigment isn’t quite as rich as I thought it would be, the shades blend effortlessly and the results are sheer with a light shimmer.

It is definitely a luxury buy, but worth every single penny (at time of posting, the retail price is around £40). You can get these palettes in a variety of different shades to best suit you and your skin tone. As far as the packaging goes, my love is only enhanced by the shiny blue case with ‘Dior’ engraved on top and cute little protection pouch that it slips beautifully into. I swear I did not buy this product because of that packaging, but I’m not saying that it didn’t help. This palette is great for brides wanting a soft, sheer look and is easily intensified with the dark down (top right).