The home of all things pretty
I have been using an airbrush kit for the last year or so. I use it for foundation, bronzer, primer, highlighter and blush – unfortunately I’m useless at applying the eyeshadow. Here’s a little video on the product…
httpvh://youtu.be/5Qyk27cbYV0
Thanks for watching!
I got my hands on some Sugarpill Cosmetics from Cocktail Cosmetics. So far, I’m very impressed. Thought you might like a gander :)
I got two single pressed eye shadows and one gorgeous palette.
How fabulous is the packaging!
Sweet Heart has four shades -Tako (Matte white), Dollypop (Matte fuchsia), Midori (frosty grass green) and Afterparty (Frosty blue with a hint of aqua).
All of the shadows are very pigmented and easy to apply. They can be worn alone or layered together. To get the full effect I like to pack on the colour with a flay shader brush, fluffy is just messy when you’re dealing with brights.
The palette itself is very strong and durable, much more so than a mac palette. Very professional in presentation. The pans are also magnetic and can be moved around or added into a larger palette.
These are pretty similar to Make Up For Ever shadows in my opinion! They are just as pigmented, they’re the same size but they’re cheaper. Remember of course that I can only speak for the shadows I have tried.
I also really love the packaging – sturdy and urban. I’m on board.
And now to the swatches (taken in natural light) Here is the quad…
And the single shadows…..
Very pigmented and vibrant I think you’ll agree. I know many of shy away from brights but one bright accent shade with neutrals can look amazing without being over the top. My favourite way to wear bright eye shadow is to go neutral on the lid and smudge a more colourful shade into my lower lash line. Occasionally I might brave a bright colour on the lid and blend it out by applying a matte taupe to the crease of my eye. That’s probably the best way to ease yourself into colour.
They are all available from Cocktail Cosmetics. The individual shadows cost €9.06 / £7.95 and the palette is €26.15 / £22.95.
A few goodies arrived from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. I have never tried the brand before but have heard quite a few YouTube guru’s raving about them so I was delighted to explore.
Left to right – Vintage, Vapid, Grandma, Anima
And here are some swatches (taken in natural light)….
Left to right – Vintage, Vapid, Anima, Grandma,
Ok so the lip tars aren’t for the feint hearted. They are intensely pigmented and super tacky, definitely made for professional use. That being said they could be enjoyed by those of you who like to have fun with your make-up.
The tars are top quality and are a great addition to my make-up kit. Now whether I would have the guts to wear them is another story, think I’ll dip a toe in my trying Grandma first :)
Each lip tar costs €10.20 / £8.95
Left to right – Ginger, Lafayette, Flicker
And some more swatches (also taken in natural light)….
Left to right – Ginger, Flicker, Lafayette
These cost €9.06 / £7.95 each. They’re another great addition to a make-up artists kit or if you’re a make-up lover who enjoys working with pigments. They are easy to work with, and last ages. I particularly love Ginger, perfect for blue eyes.
I’m really impressed by the quality of these products. They are not from a comercial, main stream brand and that’s clear. The quality and pigmentation is excellent. Worth a look.
You can find Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics at Cocktail Cosmetics.
Have you tried this brand?
I’m liking these pigments by Medusa’s Make Up. They are great for anyone building a make-up artist kit or anyone who enjoys working with pigments for fun. I have three shades…
All three shades are shimmery, not glittery, and have a satiny feel to them. The colours are all vibrant, easy to blend and best of all, long lasting. They are essentially pure good quality pigment that can be mixed together to make unique colours.
Here are a few swatches (taken in natural light)…
The dusts are also natural and vegan friendly and are a great alternative to MAC or Shu Uemura pigments.They’re also much cheaper at €4.50 / £3.95 a pot.
I think you’re either a pigment lover or your not. The little sifting grates really bother some people. I tend to use pigments more when I have time to experiment, they can be messy to use in a rush.
I always apply pigments over an eye base for extra longevity and to help them stick. This also adds to the vibrancy of the shades. At the moment I’m using NYX eye base in skin colour or MAC Painterly Paintpot – I like both.
I have heard plenty of make-up lovers in the US talking about these dusts but they are actually available over this side of the world…woo hoo. Mine are from Cocktail Cosmetics.
Do you like using pigments?
I am often asked how the shape of facial features effect make-up application. I will start with lip shape since the last email I received was from a girl who wanted to correct a wide mouth. No ones lips are perfect but there are a few things to bear in mind when choosing make-up.
Use gloss – Matte lipstick can make lips look flat. Gloss will give the illusion of depth. Apply it to the centre of the bottom and top lip to make them appear plumper and de-emphasise the length.
You could also use a lip liner to emphasise the bow of the lip. This will draw the eye away from the width.
If you are emphasising your eyes with make-up it’s a good idea to use a nude colour on the lips.
You could also try lining the inside of the lip line if you want to de-emphasise your lips completely. Although this is extreme and unnecessary.
I hope this helped! I will be posting again in the next few hours :)
Amy x
When I started out in make-up the only adhesive I had to my name was Duo. While it’s great for eyelashes and latex it’s not really an all round adhesive. I have since explored other types and have found that they each have their strengths and drawbacks. So if you were wondering what adhesives to buy for your kit or are unsure about the one to choose to meet the requirements of the job at hand here is a little information on the types of adhesives used by artists and what they actually stick.
Duo – Sticks latex. Great as an eyelash glue. It can also be used to blend the edges of prosthetic pieces made from latex.
ProsAide – This sticks latex only. However, it can be mixed with water and used as a sealer on foam pieces.
Spirit Gum - sticks latex, gelatine and plastic.
Dow Corning 355 Medical Adhesive – This is great stuff. It sticks plastic, gelatine and latex quickly. It can also be thinned using the same thinner used to thin Tipp-ex (trichlorotrifluoroethane – good job I didn’t have to attempt to pronounce this!).
Some of these adhesives are only necessary for the application of prosthesis and bigger jobs. If want to explore fantasy make-up or special effects however it’s worth making sure that you have something in your kit to stick anything!
When working as a make-up artist there may be a time you that you require some fake blood. You can of course buy it but you can also make your own very easily.
Once you have the ingredients in your cupboard you can whip up a batch on demand.
Mix the ingredients in the saucepan and gently heat until the ingredients Read more…
I have been asked quite a few times to explain the process of covering an indented scar. This method is great for covering all manner of indented scars – acne indented scaring, chicken pox marks, indented surgical scars etc.
A mixture of highlighting, shading and covering can make a scar look less indented. The idea is to create the illusion that the surrounding area protrudes less.
If the scarring is mild you could pick yourself up a concealer palette with a variety of shades to experiment with. However, if the scarring is more obvious and visibly discoloured or deep I would recommend investing in some camouflage products. I use veil and dermacolor in my kit but there are plenty of brands on the market to suit your skin and your wallet.
I hope this helped!
*Image from derma-rollerplanet.com
Here are a few tips to help soften a sqaure face. Celebrities with a square face include Kate Bosworth, Paris Hilton, Demi Moore, Carmen Electra, Angelina Jolie, Jessica Simpson, Jessica Biel.
Click here to see how to slim a round face.
Most people I come across use liquid foundation. I get so many questions about what foundations to use for a particular skin type. I thought I would post a little information about the types available to help those of you who are new to make-up choose the right one for you.
Many women (myself included) choose foundations based on friends recommendations. That can work out fine but more often then not you won’t get the same finish your friend got. You have to consider your own skin type and your suitability to the product. For this reason most of us are on a quest for the the Holy Grail foundation. In reality what is holy grail for you, may not be for the next girl.
When we delve in to foundations it’s clear why finding the perfect one is such a long journey of trial and error.
There are 3 things to consider 1.The type of foundation 2. The Coverage and 3. The Finish
Liquid Foundation:
These can be oil or water based. It is important to check which and factor in your skin type. If you have oily skin and you choose an oil based foundation, chances are you’ll end up with a shiny face a few hours in, or even have no make-up left.
If you have dry skin and you choose a water based foundation it could be too drying leaving a caked on look. If you have normal skin you will probably get away with either but you’ll probably have to experiment to find one that’s perfect.
Finishes:
Coverage:
No wonder it’s taking us so long to find ‘the one’. When I am considering a foundation purchase I factor in type, coverage and finish. If they tick the 3 boxes I am a happy woman.
Recent Comments