Lets Talk: Acids

Acids are widely talked about recently and are O K A Y for your skin. I’m going to try my best for you all to at the end of this hopefully understand acids and maybe try one out for yourself without being scared of the word acid and the thought of it going on your face. They all have different purposes for each skin type, texture, look, and overall condition of how your skin looks and could be your answer for a concern you have.

If you think about it, we use acidic products every day and even eat them. Do you think twice about eating an orange? That’s Citric Acid, a great source of Vitamin C.

They come in different strengths, formulations, prices and textures and I will be honest, all are trial and error as with all skincare items. I will try and break it down as simply as I can from what I have learned over time while working with these products and what ones could suit you best. With any skincare it’s about maintaining a routine to see a difference.

I have studied makeup and skincare to a professional level, however please do your own further research and only use this as a guideline as the majority of my research has been done through my own studies while gently touching upon these acids in my studies in class.
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A guide to finding hidden gems of the beauty world

I always struggle to feel inspired when finding new makeup and try to look in places you wouldn’t usually look, such as your go to beauty destinations, like Boots, Debenhams and Superdrug. You can usually find great deals and offers in these places at competitive prices and if you’re willing to try new brands or be pleasantly surprised at finding brands you already know and love. Here’s my favourite places to have a mooch around in when I look for new makeup buys.

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Stylfile Gel Polish Remover Kit Review

During October I was kindly sent a Stylfile Gel Polish Remover kit to try at home. Being a big Apprentice fan myself and a Stylfile fan, I was excited to try the remover kit myself and see how easy it is to remove my gels a different way than using foils.

The problem with using foils is they can be tricky to apply and hold on the nail securely. This is where inventor Tom Pellereau saw a gap in the market and created this simple way to remove them. He discovered that 52% of women believe that gel polish damages the nail. I would be in this 52% if I were voting in this poll, but according to Tom this is down to poor removal.

I am up for a challenge to see how easy it is to remove, and if my nails feel damaged and brittle after removal. 2 weeks into my gel nails being applied it is time to remove them using the kit and reapply some fresh colours. I have used a normal nail polish and a glittery one, to see if the remover two popular gel nail types.

The kit retails for £16.99 which has everything needed to remove your gels.

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How to: Eyeliner

A question I get asked very often is how do I apply eye liner. The easiest answer I can give anyone is practice a lot. Get a cheap eye liner and practice by applying then removing. Repeat until you get the hang of it.

When I started trying out eye liners, I bought a Collection (2000) eye liner and sat down for a good 2 hours just applying different thicknesses and ways. Along my make up journey I have found, for myself, that applying eye liner with my eye open and looking down slightly in a mirror is the most effective method. Below are mini tutorials for two of the quickest ways I have found to do eye liner. One using freehand, and one using tape and finishing off with concealer.

For this tutorial I’ll be using a gel liner and a nail art brush, as they’re thin and can pick up product smoothly. For me, gel is smooth, easy to remove, usually water proof and if you want to blend out to create a smoky look or drag the eye liner across the eye it’s easiest with this type of liner. It’s very versatile for your unique looks and also can be used in the waterline and to tightline.

Give them both a go and let me know how you get on!

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#HillarysCrafternoon Craft Afternoon!

On the first of March I was invited to attend an afternoon with JoeBloggers, The Crafty Hen and Hillarys to learn how to create some exciting crafts using Hillarys blind fabric.

I was excited to try something different and go to an event that was a change from beauty blogging and it was a refreshing afternoon to create something that I could use and take home!

This event was held in Chapter Arts in Canton, Cardiff. I’d never been before but the building was beautiful and I had a shock to see how big the building actually was. If you haven’t been here please do check it out, it hosts some local talent and live acts.

During the day, we created a book cover, and a fabric bird.

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How to clean make up brushes. Questions and Comments MUAs get asked #2.

Continuing with my MUA questions series, today’s post will be about cleaning brushes. Ideally you need to be washing them twice a week, and spot cleaning them with brush cleaner throughout the week to keep your brushes clean and germ free, but I know it can be a struggle with time to do this.

It’s simple, easy and you should include it in your house and beauty chores list. Not only will your make up go on a lot better, you’ll notice clearer skin, and a better finish to your overall look. Read more to see why, and how to clean brushes quickly and cheaply!

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But I don’t want to be pink toned! Why am I yellow toned? Questions and Comments MUAs get asked #1.

So I’ve decided to create a new regular topic on my blog, which is questions or comments us Make Up Artist’s get often and the most regular questions I face on a day to day basis with clients and customers.

Let’s start with;

“Why do you think I am yellow toned? I want to be pink and I usually use pink toned foundations!”

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A Guide to; University

I feel almost a little contradicting doing this post considering I’ll finish university when I’m half way to 50…

But I’ve just finished my first year in my new course in university, and having been in university 3 years in total I think it’s necessary to write what I’ve learnt so far, then laugh at the fact I’m probably not adhering to anything I’ve written.

So this is my guide to university, from a girl who’s done university twice.

Read on if you’d like to see my take on how to try and enjoy uni to the fullest!

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Contact lens friendly makeup, does it exist?

I have worked in the makeup industry professionally for around 3 years now, and I have to admit, I didn’t really understand what anyone was talking about when they’d ask me “Is this contact lens friendly?”