Mastering Your Makeup: September 2014

Tuesday Brush Series... Loves my blush!!

18:15:00
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Monday Rainbow Makeup Challenge- Yellow!!

20:01:00
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Is it time for me to just stop with the subscription boxes? I need your advice!!

15:36:00
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Thursday Tanning Series- Karora Tinted Self Tan Mist

Here we are another Thursday and another Tan to review for you ladies…

I have to say I am absolutely loving doing this series, although every tan may not have been the shade I like, my biggest learning so far is that all the tans have actually been lovely in their own way. I think we can prejudge tans based on other’s experience and that’s not what I hope for you ladies, I hope you read my review, see my pics and then make up your own mind to try or not try it as the case may be.

Today in the series we are back to a brand I reviewed a few weeks back and actually chose to wear it for the wedding I had in London. We are back to the amazing Irish brand Karora!! I fell in love with this brand with my 1^st review of the Express Bronzing Mousse which you can read about HERE Karora is a fantastic brand and what I love about them is "KARORA is an award winning custom colour skinwear collection that’s suitable for any occasion, benefits the skin and smells divine." (www.karoracosmetics.com) The custom colour is the key here... the tans will literally sit on your skin and match to the tone you are at, that's why I loved the mousse for the wedding so much, it looked so natural people couldn't tell I was wearing anything at all... who doesn't want that at an occasion such as a wedding! Of course you can build up the colour so don't panic you will NOT be pale at all!!

So onto this week's review and the... TINTED SELF TAN MIST LIGHT/MEDIUM

"RADIANT GODDESS - light to Medium

Super natural golden glow with skin conditioners for long lasting colour

Release your radiant goddess with a colour match made in heaven. A guiding golden tint gives instant glow gratification and develops into a glorious honey dipped tan. Botanical extracts lock in moisture guaranteeing complexion perfection and long lasting colour that fades incredibly evenly.

This multi-award winning mist combines custom colour with skin caring botanicals to deliver a sun kissed glow to suit your individual skin tone. Colour lasts up to seven days and fades like a natural tan.

The tinted formula glides on effortlessly, dries quickly and the golden streak-free colour intensifies after a few hours.

There is no faux tan smell, just a fresh citrus fragrance while our signature botanicals of acai & argan will keep skin in tip top condition." http://www.karoracosmetics.com/shop/tinted-self-tan-mist-100-200ml-wear-off-colour.html

The smell of Karora products is the first thing after their stunning packaging you will notice, such a sweet smell but light enough that you don't feel like your throwing pot pourri on yourself. The purple packaging is so stunning I am keeping all my boxes (I'm weird like that) and let's just once again mention the mitt... this velour beauty is amazing and a must have to feel the true luxury of applying this brand. The tinted self tan mist can be yours for €22 off the Karora website linked throughout this post.

So how did I get on with this beauty product? Again with Karora there is only a slight colour guide and for me even with all my new knowledge of tans, I do love a strong colour guide but similar to my opinion of the mousse, I feel the Karora Mitt really helps you with an even application. The mist sprays with a slight colour guide, I applied it in two ways actually, one was directly onto my arm and blended out with the mitt and the other was onto the mitt and then onto my other arm. I am not sure which one I preferred as the result was the same so maybe it's a personal preference thing. I like applying products to my skin 1st but I think that's just habit at this stage.

So I did my usual, waited a little while to dress and hopped into bed into my TanCosy to protect my sheets, my tancosy review you can read about HERE and waited until the morning to have a rinse.

There wasn't a whole lot of tan left on my tan cosy which was a good sign, I wasn't patchy either and from my shower, I didn't see much of loss in colour on my body from the rinse off. This is always a happy moment for me, there is nothing worse than waking up so so dark, sheets destroyed, into the shower and you come out as white as a sheet, one of my biggest gripes with some tans but happy as always to say Karora did not let me down.

Here is me the 1st day wearing the tan...

Top pic has flash on as I got ready for bed after day one

I have been extremely lucky to have received three amazing products to review on the blog. Even linking in with the company has been a dream and I know that they are helping out at the next Bloggers Meet I am attending in October, I would highly recommend these tans and get yourself the mitt anyway even if you don't need to try a new tan yet as so far it's the soft mitt I've tried and really helps with applications.

If you have any questions on today's post or comments if you've tried any of the Karora range or wanna suggest another Karora product for me to go and buy, let me know!!

Emma x

14:58:00
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NKD SKN Self Tan Discount Code

10:29:00
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Tuesday Brush Series... Time to CONTOUR that face

Hi Beauties,

Another Tuesday, another brush and today we are talking contouring! I have watched countless YouTube tutorials where MUA's use a range of brushes to contour their faces. I think in the time I have taken to makeup, I've learned the brush can be chosen because 1. the shape of the person's face and 2. the amount of 'contouring' you want to do...

It always looks so simple when those stunning ladies do it and I questioned if their cameras were all just magic and you always looked lovely but then when I started on my lessons quest and met loads of brilliant MUA's I discovered it's a talent and if you're lucky enough to be good at it, you're sorted!!!

Contouring is so popular now, people want to 'look like Kim K' and they want a 'totally different face shape' but it's tough work, there's been times when I looked like I smudged a brown crayon in the 'hollow' of my cheek of growing some sort of weird shadow jawline beard because I put to much product on that area, it's all very gross.

Contouring terrifies me, I'm never that brave and it's something I would love to master (just like the dreaded gel liner) but it doesn't matter how many people tell me... a little product, blend loads, slowly add more, always blend ... It never feel rights on me.

I have gone out and bought a rake of brushes and products which an MUA will have used on me, I'll love it and then when I try to do it myself, it just never looks nice enough.

In my quest to practice and finally master the dreaded contouring, I have discovered three brushes which are different in their own ways but seem to be used a lot in the makeup world.

The first brush I got to contour is the Real Techniques 'Contour' Brush.

I got it as part of the Core Collection set and I think I paid around €25 on Cloud 10 Beauty. This brush has a slightly domed head to help work into the hollow areas with a lot of hairs, I can sometimes add too much product but the brush really only needs a tiny amount and then you 'build' the colour. I still go to this brush when I use a lighter colour contour for the day look but it scares me a little when it comes to darker shades because I am too heavy handed.

I then went to a fabulous masterclass in the Inglot Pro Store on South Anne street in March which was the 1st one Joanne Larby was hosting. It was an amazing experience, I am a huge Joanne fan so it was brilliant to meet her again, it was actually from a one to one lesson with Joanne that I picked up some tips on using the RT contour brush but on the Inglot day I noticed she was using one of their brushes (of course) the slanted 3P brush.

This brush can be used of course for blusher but Joanne used the angle to work in the contour product. After the class, I had a good look (and feel) of the brush and it felt really soft so I invested in it, in the hope that the softer brush would create a softer contour finish. I was right... just not perfect. I do like this brush, I tend to use it in a lot of my makeup applications but I have found using it for blusher now more common than my contour.

The last brush and my latest to add to my collection is of course a Blank Canvas Cosmetics brush and this is the F42 brush...

it looks massive but the tip is so so soft I really like using this now as my contour brush. I actually bought a smaller brush called the F40 and it's still wrapped up in the packaging so we'll see if in the future I chose that one also. To be totally fair to Blank Canvas, they have such a range of brushes you could have at least 4 contour and highlight brushes which any makeup lover like me loves. I think the F42 will be perfect for the more dramatic contour looks for a night out and maybe the F40 for my day looks, only time will tell ;)

Ladies I really hope you liked tonight's post, as I said it can be really difficult to learn how to contour properly and it may just mean investing in a couple of different shape brushes, really learning the shape of your face and of course starting with a little product and building up to a beautiful glow... if you have any questions or comments I'd love to hear from you on my Facebook page HERE

Emma x

20:53:00
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Monday Makeup Rainbow Challenge.... Brown :)

21:36:00
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Tanning Series- Tan Organic Self Tanning Oil

Good morning ladies…

So first things first, It’s Friday, not Thursday so on my 9th week of the Tanning Series I am a day late. It’s been a pretty busy week for me work wise, I am just getting over my horrible cold so I am a little out of sorts still.

Nevertheless my pale self was treated to a lovely colour from this week’s featured tan… Tan Organic Self Tanning Oil.

I was sent this beautiful tanning oil from Skin Logic which you can check out HERE. This tan retails at €24.99 on the site and is widely known as a great brand throughout the country. This is the 2nd tanning oil I have in the series and of course I was a little apprehensive as I have just started getting used to lotions/mousse on a mitt. The bottle is glass so be careful, it contains 100ml of the tanning oil and from my half body use I have used barely anything so that’s a huge bonus already for the tan, I hate wasting tan on mitts and gloves when I want it on my body!

So what’s the info about this tanning oil, well it’s exactly the same as prepping for any tan but for the application Ciara in Skin Logic suggested using my hands… WHAT???? I didn't know what to make of that I'll tell you straight I had a vision of a chocolate coloured oil running off me and once again looking like something too early for Halloween! But… nope that didn't happen at all! I prepped my skin, exfoliating and moisturising the night before my tanning application, I then got to work on lashing on the tan... well it's clear and only slightly greasy so it's very hard to see where you have put it on and where you haven't. That got me a little worried but I thought, be brave and keep going... the bottle has a slow pour action which was great so I had no spillage, I cupped my hand, added some tanning oil and applied it like a body moisturising oil but keeping close attention to my hands to be sure I was moving them everywhere I wanted to be tanned.

I let myself dry a little while longer than some other tans to be sure it was safe to dress as I still couldn't see any colour at all, I didn't know how I was feeling but my clothes were safe, no rub off on them and my hands I gave a quick wipe with a water wipe and was happy enough they wouldn't be destroyed.

Why can't I just love these pictures to be the right way around!

I really really like the colour, it's soft and gentle which suits my want for that healthy look and not a night time look. There was no scent off it as it was developing, in the bottle it smells slightly like oranges which is grand for me I don't mind them. The fade has also been great, I am showering daily with a wash and putting on moisturiser after each shower and I am not patchy anywhere.

For a natural healthy tan (nothing too dark at all) I would recommend Tan Organic Self Tanning Oil. I like companies that are focussed on bringing out safer products for our bodies, I think the price point seemed a little expensive but now from using the product it is certainly going to last me ages using my hands for application.

You can purchase this self tanning oil and many more tan organic products from Skin Logics www.skinlogiconline.com and be sure to check them out at the Beauty Show if you are lucky enough to go in October.

Emma x

11:41:00
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Tuesday Brush Series.... Powder that face!!

20:41:00
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Monday Makeup Rainbow Challenge- Green

19:58:00
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Thursday Tanning Series- An Oldie but a Goodie- Sally Hansen!!

Happy Thursday evening ladies...

Apologies for the late posting, I am of course unwell again, the change in this weather is not suiting me at all I now have another head cold and just when I was feeling like trying some new makeup looks, I'm an Autumn Rudolph (yes you can laugh, I do!)

So this week on the tanning series is actually a tan I have been using for the last 10 years. It was a staple in my 'night out' supplies in my late teens/early 20's.

Sally Hansen spray tan is excellent! Now before I go on about how much I love the spray it's actually the lotion I wanted to review more because this is something I hadn't tried before. I was so happy to receive both a lotion and a spray so I attacked the lotion the first chance I got. The lotion is now my fave without a doubt and the medium is so dark I dunno would I handle it any darker! :)

Here's some info on Sally in case you don't know the brand...

"Sally Hansen is calling on the women of Ireland to go from Pasty to Tasty in an instant and Show Some Skin this summer! Even though our skin may be pale after the long winter there’s no need to spend hours in the sun risking harmful skin damage and premature ageing, to get the perfect designer tan to go with your summer styles.
Instead turn to award winning Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs for that safe airbrush tan effect so you can confidently Show Some Skin this summer. With four shades to choose from you can perfect those blemishes and warm up your skin tone without any risk with Airbrush Legs spray or lotion. The formula covers bruises, freckles, uneven skin tone and even stretch marks resulting in radiant skin!
The magic body makeup is not just restricted to your legs, allowing you to achieve that flawless look all over your body in a matter of minutes. Containing Palmaria Extract, Airbrush Legs is formulated to stimulate microcirculation and improve the overall appearance for that perfect finish resulting in healthy and firm looking silky legs. Just smooth on and blend in this skin perfecter for soft, seamless, water resistant and non-transferable even coverage that feels fresh all day and night. There is no need to worry about streaks as this formula is mistake free and you can shower it off whenever you like with no mess.
Both Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs (€13.95) and Lotion (€16.95) are available in four natural shades to suit every skin tone – Light, Medium, Tan, and Deep. Sally Hansen products are available to buy in grocery stores and selected pharmacies nationwide."

I was my pasty white self and a friend had sent a message to say he was having a surprise trip to Dublin so panic stations at the ready, I needed to be dark. I applied the lotion with a mitt as always and then obeyed the cardinal Sally Hansen rule LET YOURSELF DRY!!

I held the camera in my weaker arm but that's a swatch of the medium lotion on my pale self

I threw on my top and I was delighted that at the end of the night, there was no run off on my top. In the past, I have paid the price of wearing dress with Sally Hansen spray and I was destroyed! I never let the tan settle on my skin properly but at the end of the day, this tan is referred to as a body makeup so you may have different wears to a normal liquid tan/spray tan.

I am over the moon with the lotion, there is no way I will be without it again and for me because the makeup works great on the skin, I can buy a darker shade and still look fab!

Not the greatest pic but I felt amazing in the lotion

If you obey the rule of letting yourself dry and possibly not wearing a full on white get up if you are gonna sweat then I have NOTHING bad to say about Sally Hansen tan, I truly feel it's a miracle in a bottle, it will never let you down, I have never been patchy or streaky and it lasts all day which is another bonus with no real hassle with a scrub in the shower the next morning to get it off.

If you haven't tried Sally... where have you been?? Loads of chemists will have it on offer each month which is another added bonus, usually if I see them on offer I'll have two in my drawer at all times.

It would be hard to pick between the spray and the lotion, if like me you are used to the spray but I am converted now to the lotion with spray as back up. I'd love to hear your experiences of Sally and of course if you have any questions please mail me on my Facebook page HERE

Emma x

20:55:00
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Pages

Mastering Your Makeup

Tuesday Brush Series... Loves my blush!!

Monday Rainbow Makeup Challenge- Yellow!!

Is it time for me to just stop with the subscription boxes? I need your advice!!

Thursday Tanning Series- Karora Tinted Self Tan Mist

NKD SKN Self Tan Discount Code

Tuesday Brush Series... Time to CONTOUR that face

Monday Makeup Rainbow Challenge.... Brown :)

Tanning Series- Tan Organic Self Tanning Oil

Tuesday Brush Series.... Powder that face!!

Monday Makeup Rainbow Challenge- Green

Thursday Tanning Series- An Oldie but a Goodie- Sally Hansen!!

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