My experience with Eyelash Extensions

Working as a makeup artist I find that a lot of my clients are coming to me wearing eyelash extensions. As I was heading away on a sun holiday,I used it as an excuse to get a set put on. I loved them straight away and can totally understand why people get addicted. I loved that it only took a few minutes to do my makeup and I looked finished. It gives your eyes so much definition and you look wide awake with them.

The lashes I went for were a mix of synthetic and mink. The mink lash has more of a curl which gives a softer look overall. For someone that struggles with makeup I think these will be a godsend. The cost for my full set was €55 and it took about 1 hour 30 minutes. You would then go back every 3 to 4 weeks depending on how you mind them and get them refilled. I think this costs about €30. 

I have seen lashes done from most places and I have to say the Beauty Club and the salon New You are the only 2 I would recommend. You can tell straight away when people have gone to these. I went to Joanna in the beauty rooms and I would 100% recommend her. She is such s perfectionist and lovely to match.

I think for any brides wanting to get these done they should check out these 2 salons. The lashes look great and not heavy like a lot of places are doing.

Here's 2 pictures Joanna had taken of me.

Tips for keeping your lash extensions :

- Keep eyelashes dry for the first 24 hours - no shower or washing hair 

- Wear oil free products on eyes

- Avoid long lasting liner that you need to scrub at to remove. 

- Use an oil free facial cleanser. I used the Garnier Micellular Water

Fake MAC time

Hi girls,

I'm getting so many emails and messages again asking me to check if products they are buying off people on Facebook are real or not.

100% of the time this stuff is crap and dangerous. The products or brush bristles are full of dye and god only knows what else. I have a client who was left with a scar on her eye after using a fake MAC eyeshadow. It burnt her eye so bad, it scarred and she was on medication for weeks. Please please only buy from Brown Thomas in Ireland. There is no where else that it's genuine. Here's a few pics of some of the crap that's being sold. This picture below is the same set I bought years ago when I first started makeup and the black dye of the brushes stained my face for days. Please stay away from these especially at Christmas markets and events.
Laters..xx

Face mask time

I braved the snail mask..this mask is snail extract!! You apply the serum over your face and then lay the hydrating mask over for 20 mins. My skin felt brilliant after it..not gonna lie I was feeling a bit pukey half way through knowing I had snail arse juice on my face..lol 

I got it from Cassidy's pharmacy from the lovely Stephanie..it's only €1.99..I dare you try it

Poundshop Purchases

Wait until you here of my hero purchases of the week....And the best thing about them is that they cost only €1.50 each.

Aragan Oil is everywhere at the minute and the Euro Giant shop has a large range of their products from haircare to skincare. I picked up their Hair Treatment Mask and their Night Repair Serum. 

I'm just in love with both of them. The mask is your straight forward nourishing treatment that leaves your hair so soft and shiny. A must for this time of the year to help the frizzy bits.

Next up is the amazing serum, which looks like a complete copy of the Estee Lauder Repair Night Cream.

This serum I am practically bathing in. Normally with serums, I would use them sparingly as they are usually so expensive. One of my brides to be (thanks Ciara), gave me my first bottle of this to try and 2 months later I'm now on my third. I am smathering this on my face and neck morning and night and I am really starting to see a difference in how my makeup is sitting.

Time to get the coppers out girls and hit the pound shops..xx

NYX - My Top 5 Products

I wanted to do a post about the newest drugstore makeup brand to have landed in Ireland, called NYX. Like all brands there are some standout products and some products that are a complete waste of money. 

I've gone a bit crazy in the past few weeks and I've collected a good few of their products. Hopefully this will help anyone that's not too sure where to start when they start seeing these stands in chemists. For anyone living in Clare, the chemist back in Kilkee stock it and I've heard the chemist in the grove is getting it but I still haven't seen it in there.

Here is a Long list of some of my favourite products.

NO. 1 - Lip Products

I am so impressed with all things lips with this brand. I could list so many but I'll stick to just 3 favourite lip glosses and lipsticks. My 3 favourite lipsticks are from the Matte collection. The first is the red below which is called Indie Flick, which is a great bright orange red. This is considered a dupe for MAC Lady Danger. The middle is my favourite called Euro Trash is a brown/pink shade. A dark natural colour. It reminds of the 'Kylie Jenner' shade everyone is lusting after. The last shade is called Tea Rose which is a dark mauve colour with a hint of pink. It gives a pop of colour without being too over the top. All three would be perfect shades for this time of the year.

My 3 favourite butter glosses are Maple Blondie, Vanilla Cream Pie and Strawberry Parfait. I just love the texture of these, lovely and pigmented and not at all sticky. They are also so hydrating.

I'll eventually end up buying them all for my kit.

NO 2.

Next up on the list is the HD concealers €6.99each. These beauty's are so brightening for the oulde eye bags and are brilliant for covering spots or other imperfections. I love the yellow shade and 06 - Glow. They are very high coverage so they can be a bit drying if you suffer with fine lines. I always make sure I've applied eye cream before these and stops it looking dry. There are 8 different shades and 3 different correctors. I will also more than likely collect all of them for my kit they are so yummy..xxx

NO. 3

Blushers.

These babies are just the best value. They are only €7:49 and they are so buttery and soft and pigmented. My fave out of these is Peach,Angel and Taupe. The Peach blush is actually not a peach shade. It gives a pinky flush to the cheeks and has no orange or coral tone to it. Angel is just the perfect soft shade if you want an everyday blush, great for any look or for someone who is afraid of blusher or is very pale. I particularly like this if I'm going for a smokey eye or red lip and not too sure which blush to go with.
And then lastly is their most talked about shade, Taupe. This is an all round shade. It can be used as blush, as a contour powder and also as an eyeshadow. It is such a wearable shade and the kind of contour shade that's not too obvious. If you have olive or very tanned skin I would stay away from this as it will look too ashy.

NO. 4

Next up is their Jumbo Eye Pencils

I've 3 of these, Milk, black bean and dark brown..I love these as eyeshadow bases. I  smudge them all over my lid and they act as a base or primer for eye shadows or pigments and make eyeshadow colours much more vibrant. I wouldn't recommend these for the waterline as I find they smudge very easily under the eye and you'll look like a raccoon after a few hours.

NO 5.

NYX Matte setting spray

This is a great lightweight spray which I find really does help keep shine at bay. I apply this before and after my makeup. It also comes in a dewy finish for anyone that likes that finish. This is brilliant to keep your makeup in place and keeps you skin feeling fresh and hydrated.

I hope this helps, talk soon girlies..xxx

Beauty Bargains of the week

Here we go again with some must have beauty bargains...x
After another trip to Boots I did a little happy dance when I spotted that Seventeen had released a new cream bronzer, called Seventeen Instant Glow Cream Bronzer.
This has such a lovely light formula guaranteeing you don't end up looking like a shiny orange extra from Geordie Shore. It's really buildable and does exactly as the name says, it gives you a glow.
This isn't one bit muddy looking and blends like a dream. I use it as a bronzer across my nose, forehead and collar bones. I also use it to contour the sides of my nose, in the hollows of my cheeks and it's brilliant to enhance my non existing cleavage.
This is defo a must have!!!

The second winner this week is a Essence Eye Pencil in Teddy. This to me is a complete dupe for MAC pencil in the colour Teddy also, which I absolutely adore. This is a deep brown shade with a copper shimmer through it which will flatter all eye colours. It is so creamy and slides on effortlessly and it lasts on my eyes. I've used the colour both on my lids as a base and in my waterline and it didn't irritate my eyes.
I have a few if these thrown in different bags and at only €1.49 each you can't go wrong.

Happy shopping...xxxx

Zoeva Brush Haul

Hey everyone,
Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've neglected my little blog as its wedding season.

Mr. Postman was here again..this time delivering more amazing brushes from Zoeva and I just thought I'd share with you these beauties.
Zoeva is a German based makeup company that creates the softest brushes that are of very high quality at such a good price. I have bought different brush sets from different companies over the years and have never been fully happy with all of the brushes, there is always one or two duds in them. I have had my eye on their Rose Golden Set for months and it finally is mine..ALL MINE.
It consists of 8 gorgeous brushes, all wrapped in a rose gold finish which is perfect for moi as I love anything shiny.
How Zoeva describe it:

Inspired by the dazzling explosion of pink and gold, our ROSE GOLDEN Luxury Set is downright divine. Stored in a sleek, classy clutch, the luxurious brush collection comes with eight essential handcrafted brushes for your everyday makeup routine or looks with extravagance. The kit comes with both, high quality natural hair and synthetic taklon bristles, so it can be used with cream and powder based products.

It has the following brushes:

Face Brush 106

Powder Brush 102

Face Shape 102

Lux Sheer Cheek 127

Concealer Buffer Eyes 142

Soft Definer 227

Petite Crease 231

Wing Liner 317

You also get a leather pouch to hold these in.

This is such good value for a fantastic elegant set which looks and feels so luxurious. It cost €58.00 plus postage and would be an amazing gift for any girl or woman, for birthdays or Christmas etc. or even just to buy for yourself as a treat. Even better, hint big time to hubby or the boyfriend to get their credit cards out.

You can buy them on https://www.zoeva-shop.de/en/rose-golden-luxury-set/a-8000382/

I also bought two single eye brushes, the 322 Brow line brush and the 312 Detail liner. These are just brill for creating the perfect brow shape and are a must have for a makeup artist.

The postage with Zoeva is €6.30..xxx

Happy shopping girls...xx