New Year, New Series! Mid-Week Beauty Master-class!

Good morning ladies :) Hope you are now all cured from the festive hangovers and fully geared up for the New Year!

I decided to start this series dealing with make-up application and skin basics I feel everyone needs to know in order to make the best out of make-up. Therefore it will resemble a Make-up  one on one.  I have already written a few general posts which you might want to refer to so as the first post of the series, I am going to link all these posts here for easier referral. 

To know more about what the skin is and it's various functions, click here; you might also want to check out my face cleansing routine here.  However, always adapt this routine to your skin needs.  To know what your skin type is, check out this post! You can also find more tips for clear skin here.

The colour wheel is an indispensable tool when deciding which colours to use so be sure to have a look at it here.  This other post deals with all the basic make-up tools everyone should have.

Another post I had posted on this blog which is worth a read deals with eyebrow shaping. Click here for more.

I hope you will all enjoy this series and please do not hesitate to send me your requests about what you would  like to see here :)


Blogger Template

Review: Ms. Manicure Call Your Buff 6-way buffer

I bought this buffer about a year ago because my Body Shop one wasn't good for use anymore.  I really like the back of the protective pouch where you get the instructions:

It's kinda cute don't you agree? As you can tell from the title, the buffer has 6 'sides' to it but honestly I don't see the necessity of this. Let's take a look at them individually:

1. File Away ~ I don't like the grit on this side as it feels rather smooth compared to other nail files so I definitely don't use this to file my nails.

2. Shape Up ~ Again, this is too smooth to shape your nails and besides, I shape my nails with my nail file as I go along.

3. Tidy Those Tips ~ This is the first side I like from this buffer! You know when you file your nails and you get some left-over hanging bits from the tips of your nails? This side clears them up for you!

4. Smooth It Down ~ This side is supposed to remove ridges (those fine vertical lines along the nails) and stains from the nails, but I have never seen any difference.

5. Buff To Beautiful ~ I like how this side really buffs the nails to a satiny-smooth feel therefore prepping them for a smooth polish application.

6. Polish Me Perfect ~ This side gives a shine to the nails and makes them look as if you have applied a layer of clear polish.  However, to me this has no use as I always polish my nails.

I can't remember the exact price for this but it wasn't expensive for sure but I don't think I will buy it again as I don't reach for it that often and to me, it would have sufficed to have the tip tidying side and the buffing side. However, should the nail file have the correct grit, it would have been even better. 

Blogger Templates

Review: e.l.f. Professional Blending Eyebrush

Here's another brush from elf's regular line that I love so much.  I only got it last month and have been wondering ever since how I managed to blend my eyeshadows without it!

This brush belongs to elf's regular line and therefore retails for £1.50/€1.70 from their website.  It comes in a plastic sleeve (very handy when traveling), like all the other brushes from elf, with a thin piece of cardboard (which I have thrown away) that says the name of the brush.  This is also printed on the brush handle.  The brush itself looks like this:

The first thing I noted was the fluffiness of the brush and how soft it is to the touch.  I am really pleased with the round end as it makes it easier to blend colours in the crease of the eyes.  The fact that it hasn't shed any hairs yet, even during/after washing, really is a bonus.  The hairs are synthetic and Taklon-coated just like the rest of the elf brushes.

Being so fluffy, this brush is really suited to blend the eyeshadows and also to apply some highlight to the brow bones without risking packing a lot of colour on.  The handle is just the right size and very ergonomic as well.  It is also perfect to carry with you when traveling.

I can never raise enough praise for this brush and I can relate to everyone out there raving about this brush, in fact it is featured in most (if not all) elf favourites videos/posts.  Another proof that cheap cosmetics do work and rival the higher-end ones!

Blogger Templates

Review: e.l.f. Studio Brush Shampoo

I wanted to try e.l.f.'s brush shampoo ever since I got their Daily Brush Cleaner in one of my earlier orders and so, in my last order, I decided to get it. I had like almost a week to play with it and now, here's the review!

The first thing that I noticed and I wasn't that happy about, is the size of the bottle. I mean, compare it to the Daily Brush Cleaner, they are both the same price (€4.00) and for the latter, you get more than double the volume of the shampoo! For reference, you get 120ml for the Brush Shampoo and 250ml for the Daily Brush Cleaner, so please elf, it would be nice if you got this in a larger format :)

Now for the pros, which I gladly say, outweigh the cons (or should that be one, single con??).

I used this brush shampoo twice to clean all my used make up brushes, including the bigger powder, blusher and contouring brushes and I have only gone through a small amount! I learned that a little goes a long way with this shampoo as it produces a nice, foamy lather even with just a drop! Bonus points to the see-through bottle as well as for the dispenser. When I saw this on the site, I thought it had a cap which you unscrew and pour the product out and hence I was a bit skeptical in the sense that it's not really economical to have a dispenser like that; but when I took it out of the box it comes supplied in, I saw it has one of those caps where you press one side to click it open and there's a small hole through which you get the product out.

At this point, some might argue it works just like regular shampoos. Fair enough! I thought that too, but after seeing how much more product was coming out of my brushes with less amount of shampoo and the fresh, anti-bacterial smell my brushes had after washing, I changed my mind. Also, the bristles were all left very soft, pretty much like the first time I got the brushes.

With regards to smell, the shampoo doesn't contain alcohol and so it doesn't impart the same strong smell as the Brush Cleaner does. However, it still has a similar lovely smell, only not as strong.

Would I buy this again? I'm not sure, honestly. I am trying to see how long I can stretch it for and then maybe I decide in the affirmative. The only this that holds me back is the size whilst performance is really good, so probably it will be a yes; only time will tell!

Have you tried the Brush Shampoo or Daily Brush Cleaner ladies? What did you think of them? Would you re-purchase them?

Blogger Templates

Review: e.l.f. Dual Pencil Sharpener

Today I am going to be reviewing my e.l.f. Dual Pencil Sharpener which was part of my first shy order from the elf cosmetics website.

The packaging contains two sharpeners, a dual one and a mono one, and they both come supplied in the same blister pack. I will start by reviewing the sharpener I use most, the mono one.

Basically it is your standard sharpener, for the normal sized cosmetic pencils. It measures 2.5 x 1.4 x 1.6cm and therefore, you don't have to worry about space in your travel make up bag. I like the sleek black appearance of this sharpener as it makes it look professional. The pencils are sharpened to a well-defined tip without breaking them and I am therefore very content with this one.

On to the dual sharpener. I have mixed feelings about this sharpener because while I like the innovative format, I don't like the way it sharpens the pencils. First, let's see what's special about the format.

Basically, you get a dual sharpener with a clear base and top which are both detachable to enable thorough cleaning of the blades after use. This sharpener also has a small picking tool (see image on the right) which is intended for cleaning the blades from the pencil residues. I really like that in fact as I have never seen anything like this with other cosmetic sharpeners. Furthermore, an adapter is also supplied so that all the pencils, no matter what size, can be sharpened. I also like the sleek black format on this one.

Now, the reasons I don't like this sharpener as much as I do the mono one. Basically, it has to do with the sharpening. I used the bigger side only once with one of my thicker sized pencils and I was really disappointed. See why for yourselves:

After this rather unpleasant episode, I didn't want to risk my other similar pencils so I used a (clean!) stationery sharpener to sharpen them with. As for the other side, the distance which a pencil is allowed to enter in the sharpener is quite short so I haven't yet figured out which pencils this side is suitable for. Over all, I think I would rate this set of sharpeners a 6/10. How would you rate these? Have you tried them and have a different view about them?

Blogger Templates

The right tools for the job!

When it comes to make up application, you have to get to know your skin type so that you find products that are compatible to avoid breakouts or mishaps. Also, you need to know the exact tone of your skin especially for when you need to choose foundation, powder and concealer as well as colour tones that best suit your face and facial features.

This is not enough however if you don't have the right make up tools. It is useless to have the most expensive make up items and not have the basic application tools. In this post, I will list the essential brushes and applicators you need to achieve a perfect result each time!

Brushes

~ Powder Brush

~ Contouring Blusher/Bronzer Brush (I have one for the blusher and one for the bronzer)

~ Conventional Blusher/Bronzer Brush

~ Eyeshadow applicators (sponge type or hairy type)

~ Blending brushes (the smaller they are, the finer the detail)

~ Eyebrow Wand

~ Eyelash/Eyebrow Comb

~ Lip Brush

For a review about the brushes I use, please click here

Sponges

You will need sponges to apply liquid foundation. The best bet is a wedge sponge. You will also need round flat applicators for powders. Keep them clean by washing them in warm, soapy water after each use.

Sharpener

You will need a good quality sharpener to keep your eye pencils, lip liners, and eyebrow pencils in tip top condition. I use e.l.f. Dual Pencil Sharpener. It has two holes; one for the regular brushes and one for the smaller ones, along with a pick with which you can remove any left-over make up from the sharpener blades. A bonus mono sharpener is also included in the pack.

Basically, that is all you need for excellent make up application. Practice makes perfect they say, so go on, look out for the right types of products and start experimenting right away!!

Lara xoxo