It's all very well buying the newest shade of lipstick and keeping up to date with all the latest trends but if you don't know how to do the basics then you're just wasting your time and money. I am a firm believer that every makeup look should start with a flawless base. And one of the most important tools in your makeup kit will be a great concealer. Now I know there are 100's no sorry 1000's of concealers on the market from under eye highlighters to full coverage concealers and it can all get VERY confusing. But hopefully I'm going to answer some of your questions and help you find the right concealer and tell you how to apply it. Depending on how much coverage you need, concealer can be applied before or after your foundation. A general rule of thumb is: For less coverage, apply concealer before foundation; for more coverage, apply concealer on top of foundation. Under Eye ConcealingThis is the most common area to conceal and the first thing I need to say is NO MATTER what you do or WHAT PRODUCT YOU USE your concealer will more than likely crease. However here are a few tips you should follow to minimise creasing and help your concealer to last longer.
How to Apply:
Products I Love for Under Eye Concealing:
BlemishesThe difference between undereye concealers and blemish concealers is simply the texture: concealers that work best on blemishes have a thicker, creamier texture. Here are a few tips on covering blemishes:
How to apply concealer
Products I love for blemish concealing:
RednessIt’s very common to have redness or small broken veins around your nose. This is also generally a much oiler area of your face, so it requires a concealer method that’s simple but a little bit different than the rest of your face.
How to apply concealer:
Products I love for redness concealing:
So thats it. I hope I have answered most of your questions.
Please let me know in the comments below if you have any further queries or what you would like me to blog about next. Thanks for reading. Until next time - Be Happy! Susie XXX
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So MAC have finally jumped on the bandwagon and are releasing a nude/neutral palette. Well two palettes to be exact. They are launching a cool neutral and a warm neutral in March 2014. There will be 15 shadows in each palette and should retail about €80 which makes it fantastic value (generally a 15 palette case plus the insert would cost you €26.50 and each individual shadow is €12.50 making a grand total of €214.00) Warm Neutral PaletteThe palette's are a mix of new and existing shades and a complete mixture of textures. The colours in the Warm Neutral Palette are as follows:
Cool Neutral PaletteAgain the Cool Neutral palette's has a mix of new and exsisting shades and a complete mixture of finishes. The colours in the Cool Neutral Palette are as follows:
These palettes are made up of a combination of some of MAC's permanent eyeshadows like Brun & Black Tied and of some previous limited editions and some entirely new shades exclusive to the palettes.
At approx €80 each they are alot cheaper than making your own custom palette but double the price of the Urban Decay Naked palettes. They are a permanent fixture and I'm so tempted to buy them when they launch. What do you guys think? Will you be tempted to buy them? Let me know in the comments below. Susie xxx Spring is just around the corner (that's if we aren't all washed away by this weather before then). Here are some of the gorgeous Spring/Summer makeup trends that have been seen all over the catwalks. I will try and post pictures of the more "wearable" ones. Berry LipsMichael Kors used the colour Dame from his own range to create a beautiful berry lip (photo on the left). You will be able to recreate the look with Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stains and Bourjois Shine lipsticks. EyelinerIts all about the cat eye this Spring/Summer. So wither you like to use a gel, liquid or pencil you better start to practice. Makeup artist Mally Roncal said that a thin cotton swab dipped in makeup remover is the key to getting a neat clean line. I love the L'Oreal Super Liner and the Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner with an angled brush. Electric BlueNo the 80's aren't back...Blue is back though and VERY trendy. You will be looking for an electric blue shadow or liner. Bourjois are ususally bang on trend with their liners and Maybelline have a gorgeous cream shadow which you can use as a base or an all over shadow (Eye Studio Colour Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow in Tenacious Teal). Bright Orange LipstickDon't be afraid of this trend. It was massive on the catwalks with designers such as Donna Karan, DKNY, Christian Siriano and Rag & Bone all opting for various hues of the orange family. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick In Love With Ginger is just gorgeous and Maybelline Colour Sensational Vivids in Mandarin and Electric Orange all fit the bill. To get a hint of colour just dab on with your finger and buff into your lip. You get a toned down version of the colour and a beautiful matte longlasting finish. Glowing SkinGlowing nude skin just looks beautiful in Spring. You can achieve this look in a few different ways - 1. Use a tinted moisturiser - I love the Laura Mercier primer in Radiance followed by the Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser. 2: Using a moisturiser and illuminator. Revlon Skinlights is gorgeous applied to the cheek bones, temples and bridge of nose with a damp sponge. 3: Bourjois BB Bronzing Cream gives a beautiful glow to the skin and they also have a bronzing primer which I use as for contouring the skin (the Bourjois Bronzing Primer is a dupe for Chanel's Soleil Tan De Chanel). Both leave your skin with a beautiful sunkissed look. If you suffer from oily skin and feel you need to use a powder only apply it to the areas that really need it. So thats it...Everything is very wearable so just play around with colours until you are comfortable.
Which is your favourite trend? Let me know in the comments below. Chat to you soon Susie xxx Ireland's newest subscription service promises five surprise luxury beauty products deliverd straight to your door, each month! I received my box just after Christmas so it was like a bonus present! First impressions - I love the packaging and the box is perfect to re-use (I store makeup in them). It comes with Blush! magazine which reveals all about the products in the box including where you can buy the products, plus exclusive discount codes, tips on tanning, makeup brushes and how to get a fabulous festive makeup look. It also introduces us to two Irish Brands - Cloon Keen Atelier and Kinvara Skincare. (I loved that bit). So what's in the Box?1. Blank Canvas Cosmetics F22 Dome Face Brush (RRP €13.99). This is a great all rounder brush from Irish Company Blank Canvas Cosmetics - it can be used to apply foundation, cream blusher or contour. I usually use the Real Techniques Buffing Brush and this is very similar. The bristles are super soft which makes it great for achieving a flawless effect. So thumbs up to that. 2. Shiseido Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam - Sample 30ml €8.50 (Full Size 125ml RRP €36) This cleanser promised to was away impurities without depriving the skin of moisture. It can be used on all skin types morning and evening. 3. Academie Bronz' Express - Sample 50ml €7.50 (Full Size 100ml RRP €14.95) Bronz' Express has been on the market for over 50 years and I still think its one of the best there is expecially for pale Irish skin. It gives an immediate glow which developes into a deeper bronze after 8 hours. 4. Vichy Idealia Life Serum - 8 sachets (€8 approx) (Full Size 50ml RRP €34.50) They say this serum can transform your skin in as little as eight days. It is formulated to fight against life's excesses and will leave your skin fresher and more rested. 5. Hugo Boss Boss Jour Pour Femme - 2ml sample (€2.50 approx) (50ml RRP €66.00) This is the newest fragrance to the Boss family. Its an elegant floral/fruity fragrance "created to envoke the feelings of the first light of day". Ya not sure about that - to me it just smells lovely and fresh and I would definitely use it as a spring/summer perfume. So what do I think?I think the saving grace of this box is the Blank Canvas Brush which I love and am very excited to use. Also the Bronz' Express is a great size for travelling and Im excited to try the Shiseido Cleansing Foam. You can walk into any pharmacy and get the Boss perfume sample and the Vichy Idealia Serum samples. But in saying that I probably wouldn't plus its a great way to try out new products that you may not have known about or may have thought they were very expensive. The net worth of the box is about €40 so it was worth the €15 price tag. I used to subscribe to Glossy Box UK and at the start they boxes were brilliant with at least one or two full size deluxe products however after a few months they were just full of samples you can get from any beauty counters or pharmacy. Also I was being charged for the box at the start of the month and not receiving it until the end of the month. I hope Powder Pocket don't end up like this. If they keep the boxes full of good brands and exciting products I will happily stay subscribed. Have any of you signed up yet? Or have you tried Glossy Box or a similar subscription beauty box? Let me know in the comments below Susie xxx How to OrderYou can order your box from the PowderPocket website.
(Click the purple writing) Monthly - you will get a box every month for €12 plus €3 p&p or 6 months for €75 (postage inc) and you get one box free or subscribe for 12 months for €150 (postage inc) and get two boxes free Here is a round up of my beauty and makeup favourites from 2013. I tried to keep it to my very favourite products buts its sooo hard to choose!!! I have it broke down into categories to make it a little easier to read...So grab yourselves a cup of tea or a glass of wine and enjoy!!! SkincareClarins Double Serum 30ml (€69.50). I got this at the end of November (because of the start of a massive crater creeping across my forehead) but haven't done a full review on it yet as I like to use a product for a least a month before giving it a full & frank review. It's 27 years in the making and claims to activate the skin's 5 vital functions: nutrition, oxygenation, hydration, regeneration and protection. Basically a skin firming, pore minimizing, wrinkle reducing miracle in a bottle - oh and it evens skin texture also. This is where I have noticed the biggest improvement. My skin tone is alot more even and the GIANT WRINKLE I noticed on my forehead seems to have retracted back into what ever little hole it crawled out of (for now anyway)!!! I use it morning and evening, don't find it greasy and love the smell of it. At €69.50 it is expensive but I will definitely be repurchasing it. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (€28.00 for 125ml). I love this Balm. It just melts the makeup off your face. You only need a small tiny amount, massage it into your skin and use a warm face cloth to remove all the grime, oil and dirt from your face. Your skin will feel sooooo clean but without feeling tight or stripped. And honestly the pot will last you ages. I also love the Take the Day Off Eye Makeup Remover. Soap & Glory - Clean On Me Shower Gel, The Righteous Body Butter and Breakfast Scrub (€10-€14 & ususally available on 3for2 in Boots) I keep returning to these three products from the Soap & Glory Range for my shower routine. I just love the smell of the Clean on Me Shower Gel and the Righteous Body Butter whilst I just want to eat the Breakfast Scrub. It smells like maple syrup mmmhhhh yummy!!!. MakeupLaura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance 50ml (€36.00) This is a great product. I got it mainly to use for Bridal makeup but I have become addicted to it. Its beautifully moisturising which helps your foundation glide on and last all day without any dry patches showing through. And boy does it make your skin glow. Even with a full coverage foundation like the Estee Lauder Double Wear this stuff leaves your skin looking dewy. If you have oily skin you could just use it on your high points like your cheek bones, temples etc. Estee Lauder Double Wear 30ml (€36.50) This was a new discovery for me this year. Sometimes I love to use a really good full coverage foundation (you know when your skin is mis-behaving) and this ticks all the boxes. It gives full coverage but still looks natural, lasts all day without having to touch up, doesn't cause flash back in photos and basically is a great all rounder. You only need to use a tiny amount and I blend it in with a Real Techniques buffing brush. LOVE!!! Bourjois Happy Light Foundation 30mls (€16.99) I am a big fan of Bourjois Foundations and have used the Healthy Mix Foundation and the Healthy Mix Serum Foundation for years now. The Happy Light Foundation was launched in September it has been a staple in my makeup bag ever since. It has a beautiful velvety texture which blends into the skin for a luminous natural finish. Depending on how you apply it the coverage can vary from light to medium and if you lightly powder it will last about 8hrs. Basically this is a brilliant everyday makeup. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer (€8.99) I am slightly addicted to concealer, I have ones for dark circles, spots, blemishes, highlighting and I buy everything from Bobbi Brown to Collection 2000. My biggest problem is dark undereyes so I am usually looking for a concealer/brightener. EVERY concealer I have tried to date has creased under the eye area and sits in my fine lines (Even the Bobbi Brown creamy concealer which is supposed to be one of the best). Anyhow in my never ending quest I decided to buy the Maybelline Fit Me concealer and low and behold its amazing. It blends like a dream, covers and brighten my dark circles and doesn't sit in my lines. Magic and all for only €8.99 Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (€5.99), Soap & Glory Solar Powder Bronzer (€14) & Benefit Rockateur Blush (€34). If you have been an avid reader of my blogs then you will know I love the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. It's cheap, does exactly what it supposed to do and a brilliant all rounder. The Soap & Glory Solar Powder Bronzer is a fairly new product to me but its just the perfect colour. Being pale and a red head, it can be very difficult to find a bronzer that doesn't look muddy or dirty. You get two shades, the lighter I use for dusting over my forehead, cheeks and nose for a sunkissed look and the darker shade for contouring. I use this on clients also and the texture and pigment are great and it blends so easily. And finally the newest offering from Benefit. The Rockateur Blush is just a gorgeous Rose Gold blush. It has a very light shimmer going through it and gives you a beautiful pinky/bronze finish. Beautiful!!! Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter (€11) & Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick (€10). These are just two great products. The Revlon Lip Butters are a marriage between a lipstick and a lipbalm and its amazing.They contain hydrating mango, shea and coconut which keep the lip well moisturised throughout the day. They glide onto the lips and leave a sheer to medium buttery shine. Perfect for everyday wear or a laid back evening look as they feel light & creamy and comfortable to talk, eat and drink while wearing. The Soap and Glory Mother Pucker Gloss Pencils are another handy handbag staple. They have a luxurious feel to them and are more like a lipstick/gloss hybrid. They have a creamy formula that glides on and melts into the lips. I have alot of other "chubby stick" type gloss/balms but these feel like a treatment on the lip. Whilst more glossy and hydrating than their competition, they're completely free of any stickiness. And finally..... L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara (€12.85) This is my new favourite mascara. This mascara makes my lashes so dramatic and full of volume. But they are defined, clump free, and so long looking! Seriously, the first time I put it on, I was shocked by how great my lashes looked! So that's it...I hope I haven't bored you all to tears...I will continue my hunt for new and exciting products and keep you all updated on my findings.
If you would like me to try out a product and review it for you just let me know in the comments below or message me on Facebook. Have a brilliant weekend Chat soon Susie xxx 2013 was a BRILLIANT year for me... My little sister (who also happens to be my best friend) celebrated her 30th Birthday in April, we had her hen weekend in June, then she got married to the lovely Stephen in August and in November we had a brilliant family gathering (as you can probably tell we love to celebrate and party in my house). And more importantly I completed my makeup artistry course, became a freelance makeup artist and set up by Facebook page and website. And I loved every minute of it. So what are my plans for 2014? In 2014 I hope to
So that's it.
Nothing that cannot be achieved if I just put my mind to it. Now that it is written here in black and white and all of you have seen it, I might be more motivated to stick with it. What are you goals for 2014? Once again Happy New Year and remember "Determine your priorities & focus on them" |
AuthorLover of all things beauty, Makeup Artist, Blogger & Wife . I am always on the look out for the perfect makeup or the best beauty product so keep reading to follow my never ending quest! Categories
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