Amazing Maisy at La Beaute Waterford... Our First Visit!

At the end of March, I was now in full swing of looking for new people to link in with to get some make up lessons. I had been bombarding my best friends Sinead and Elaine so when I contact Maisy at La Beaute she said she'd be delighted to take the three of us for a two hour lesson. I was ecstatic :)

Maisy is a make up genuis! This my friends is a fact which I shall prove in the before and after shot at the end of the blog... Trust me no girl wants their "before" pic out for the world to see but I think its only right to show just how beautiful she can make you and also with the right makeup application you can literally change how a person is viewed by the world.

Our setting was girly perfect, with three of us attending the lesson we each paid €40 and we added on an extra hours class time and snacks (this was a special treat for us 3 as we were Maisy's first triple lesson) We had pink cups, pink table cloths, jellies, fizzy drinks, crisps and it just made the atmosphere so special. We were all really nervous as we had never met Maisy before but ever the professional she was very welcoming and we were soon laughing and relaxed :)

Maisy had asked me what we would like so we decided we would each receive a makeup application and she would explain her method as she went along also noting what products she would suggest for each of our skin tones and conditions. I jumped up to be first and soon discovered I just loved having my makeup done... I attempted to listen to all her instructions but I found I was much more interested in the shopping list I was now making in my head!! Sinead and Elaine were great, taking in all what Maisy was doing so we decided to take note of what we were getting done and then swap afterwards.

I had asked Maisy for a dramatic smokey eye... I like daytime makeup but for me the skills that I need to learn are deffo when it comes to night looks, bold eye shadows, false lashes and contouring. Maisy was extremely descriptive and patient as we watched her apply a smokey eye to each of us, she showed up blending techniques and also easier ways to start with when applying makeup with the option to then come back once we had mastered that. 

In another week or two I shall blog again about the one to one lesson I had with Maisy, this was fascinating and I shall include a step by step guide to perfecting the look we created. When I say we, I was literally two faced for a while :)

We all ended up buying different products from our time with Maisy but for me, this was the first time I had discovered Catrice products (sold in Penneys in Waterford) I purchased the concealer palette. I really liked this and from what I remember its priced around €6, it gives you three shades of concealer and then a pink and a green colour... it even gives you a description on the back as to what the colours are used for. I found the pink colour concealer excellent for covering dark circles. I also bought the glamour doll mascara, excellent for length and volume of any lashes. 

Tonight's blog is an introduction to one of my biggest makeup inspiration to date Miss Maisy. She has thought me so much and anytime I am in Waterford for a weekend or for a night out she's the one lady I go to to change how I look even just for one night. She is both friendly and great craic, a true professional who has serious talent.

La Beaute has it's own Facebook page so check it out and give it a go yourselves :)

As you can see from our pics we loved our time there and the one on one lesson will show you how with the right guidance, you can truly be your own artist.

Stay Beautiful,

Emma x

 

Sleek Makeup at Lulu Belle Waterford

So I was trawling through Facebook as ya do one evening after work and I came across a post from Lulu Belle Beauty Salon in Waterford with a fantastic offer from Sleek Makeup. On Friday the 20th of Sept, if you spend €25 on Sleek Makeup products, you got your makeup done for free :)

I had discovered Sleek makeup a few months ago when I purchased two pout paints, these are seriously bright coloured lipsticks and I am yet to brave them in public but I love them just the same!! Sleek makeup is a seriously reasonable makeup range with loads to choose from. When I heard that a local chemist was finally stocking it, I just had to stock up!

I booked in for my application with Grace from Lulu Belle and she was amazing, so friendly and we both had great fun while she made me over. I was seated in the middle of the store but she made me feel so comfortable I didn't even notice the customers having a gawk as they went to the counter... I did realise this is mostly because my eyes were closed a lot :)

Firstly Grace applied primer and then sleek foundation with a blending sponge. Unfortunately Sleek do not do a loose powder so she used Vichy on my face and I really like the finish so I may need to purchase this soon! Grace then used the contour and blush palette to contour, highlight and add some beautiful rose gold blush on my cheeks. Because I have recently purchased the blank canvas powder palette, I bought the rose gold blush and I'm in love. You can see the pics of it on the end of the blog.

Sleek do amazing eye palette and they retail at €9.99 each (as far as I know they contain at least 6-8 colours per palette) They range from bright colours to nudes and naturals and if you like eye shadow and maybe can't splash out on the Urban Decay Naked palettes then I deffo would suggest investing in at least one of the Sleek palettes. Grace applied a bronzed smokey eye to my look.

The brow kit from Sleek is a must have for all girls who want that beautifully structured brow and for €9.99 it's a bargain. The have four different shades to choose from so as I'm naturally dark, I bought the dark kit. It has a wax and a powder colour, two brushes and a small tweezers, it's amazing!!

Sleek also have a number of mascaras which I really like and again they retail at approx €7-€10. Using the gel eyeliner (which I again had to buy) Grace created a lovely slim line along my lashes and applied some of the darker eye shadow colour on my bottom lashes.

A good trick which Grace taught me was to keep cotton buds on hand for your eye makeup, wet the tip and it helps to remove any little mistakes you may have made without having to wash your whole face.

The lips were by far my favourite part of the look... I'm a serious lover of lippies and at times have spent €20 just to get the latest MAC colour but sleek have brilliant shades retailing around €6-€8 for both glosses and lipsticks. I wore vamp lipstick and Kiss and Tell gloss and yes you know it I bought both!

Sleek is a perfect brand for day time and night time make up, it is so reasonably priced and yet have a huge range of shades and products. I will be heading back to get the foundation soon as I can, it stayed on all evening and no patching whatsoever.

The chemist to purchase Sleek cosmetics is in the Waterford Health Park (Opposite Walsh Park GAA grounds)

I also highly recommend paying the girls in Lulu Belle a visit, the service is brilliant and even in the crowded shop front I was made to feel very comfortable. In the coming weeks I plan to try out the HD brows in Lulu Belle so will keep you all posted on how it goes.

That's all for tonight ladies,

Stay beautiful,

Emma x

Beauty Bootcamp: Tips and Tricks

Hey everyone,

So after posting last night about how amazing Beauty Bootcamp was, I realised I didn't include much detail on what I actually learned. Oops!!

Instead of waiting until Monday to post this I'm going to break my own timing rules and add this post to last nights.

For today I will be taking you through all the tips I learned from Leonard in the makeup class of Beauty Bootcamp. I am taking a lot of this info from the handout we got on the day which I have scribbled loads of extra tips on... Remember this look was to create a flawless barely there look with the addition of a simple smokey eye. So here we go....

Step 1: Primer
Primer is always a good thing to apply to your face for two reasons; it allows the makeup to sit on it rather than directly on your skin but it also gives you a more even finish.  Primer can be put on using your fingertips and you shouldn't need too much as you can look quite greasy if you do.

Step 2: Foundation
Choosing a foundation for your skin can be the most difficult task when it comes to make up. Ideally foundation should match your skin so perfectly that it blends to almost look invisible. A good foundation will eliminate your flaws but not make you look 'plastered'. During our makeup class, we applied our foundation using our fingers (the middle finger and your ring finger) this was really different for me as I always thought you needed a brush or a sponge. Using your fingers, you use a small amount of foundation and blend from the inside of your face and work your way out so from your nose out towards your forehead and jaw line. This creates a day time minimal coverage look but does cover all imperfections. Blending outwards is the key to perfecting your foundation. Do not use too much around your eye area as this can add to lines that are there and next we will use concealer on that anyway.

Another tip we got on the day is- if you have foundations that are slightly too dark why not become your own chemist? Mix your darker foundation with a small amount of lighter foundation and that will lighten the colour but not change too much of the texture. 

Step 3: Concealer:
First thing to know is Touch Eclat by YSL is not a concealer... This is an illuminator, Leonard was very strict on this!!!
Concealers are used along with your foundation to cover up any dark circles or imperfections you may have. Again using your ring finger will aid you to apply just enough concealer. You don't want to overload the area with concealer because you will only make it look chunky.

*Using concealer to higlight certain areas is different, we didn't cover that on the day so for this purpose your concealer should match your skin perfectly. I will look at highlighting in my piece with Maisy in La Beaute.

Step 4: Powder
Powder should be applied lightly just to 'set' the face. You will need a large powder brush (which must be completely clean) and sweep along the face lightly and evenly. Again if you are not wearing tan and wish to match your skin tone, do not use a powder which is too dark but maybe one shade up from your foundation so you don't look ghostly.

*Contouring again will again be covered in my piece with Maisy.

Step 5: Blusher
You are not a doll and there you do not need bright pink/red cheeks- Classic advice really :)
Smile smile smile... This is how you know you are placing the blush on in the right place. Using again a clean blush brush, apply a small amount of your powder blush onto your brush and gently onto the apple of your cheeks only. You do not need to create a line of blush and also, with powder blush, swirl your brish around the blusher, tap off the excess and gently sweep onto the cheeks, its easier to build up colour that to put too much on and trying to wash it off again.

Step 6: Eyes

The most important lesson we learned in beauty bootcamp about our eyes was the colour wheel. Blue eyed people should avoid using baby blue or dark green all over their eyes. Brown eyes are extremely lucky they can wear almost any colour but yellowish browns are not great for their own colour to stand out. Green eyed people should avoid strong greens and bluey-greens as they also do not enhance the eye.

*In my piece on Maisy, I will take you step by step through the process of creating a smokey eye.
We did however discuss on the day the difference between using a powder eye shadow and a cream eye shadow. For the day time look, it is suggested to use a cream eye shadow as they can look more fresh and natural. For the night time a build up of strong colours created with powder can change a persons look in an instant. Blending is key when it comes to the eyes. A good set of brushes for each individual section will make the process much easier.

Step 7: Lashes
Mascara... There are hundreds on the market and each claim to do this that and the other. What we learned in beauty bootcamp is the application of the mascara is the key really. You could have all the best products in the world but without the right technique they're useless to you. How to apply mascara correctly is; do not have too much product on your wand, lift the eye lid up towards your forward and as your apply the mascara to the lashes from root to tip, slightly moving the wand from side to side. This ensures that the mascara reaches each and every lash but encourages them to stretch and also builds volume. You need to make sure you work the mascara from root to tip in order to create a fuller lash look.

Step 8: Lips
As stated before this look was to be a daytime, flawless look. we used mostly natural lipsticks although I did manage to grab a real red lippy to work into my vintage look. Lining your lip can be difficult if you don't have a steady hand but with some practice, this can transform the shape of the lip making them look much fuller. Don't be afraid to play with lipstick either, I am an huge fan of busting out some mad colour lips for a night out but it can literally transform your look. Applying lipstick with a brush can also help with not making any mistakes coming off the lip line. You can also set your lipstick by applying a layer, applying loose powder over the layer and going back in with another layer of colour. I haven't quite tried this yet as you rarely see me out without a tube of some sort of colour :)

This was a brief run through of the afternoon I spent in Beauty Bootcamp. I hope some tips were helpful. As I said before my blog is going to be run twice a week taking both products and techniques into account. In the coming weeks, I will get into more specific detail about aspects of makeup application with links to YouTube tutorials, suggested products and loads of pictures.

Stay beautiful,

Emma x

Beauty Bootcamp Dublin

When I began looking into makeup courses, I wasn't exactly sure what it was I wanted to learn most.... I knew that although I felt I had the 'basics' down... things like eye liner, filling in my brows and the obvious smokey eye were well beyond my reach.

After googling for what felt like forever I cam across the website Beauty Bootcamp (which I have posted below)

http://www.beauty-bootcamp.com/

Beauty Bootcamp offers a 1 day course which incorporates both hair and makeup. The course fee was €90 for the day which does seem a little expensive but if you bring a second person they receive a discount and only pay €45 (this is a Sept offer)

I went along on the 9th of March with my friend Karen, we arrived at 10am and were put into the hair group first. We were handed the Beauty Bootcamp handbook. This was vital information about all the tools we were using but also it was divided into the hair and makeup sections. 

The hair class was amazing!! There were GHD's, crimpers, curlers, volume brushes, heated rollers and everything a girl would want to create the perfect going out style... It was a girl's dream venue, all sat around huge mirrors which had the spot lights (and I just love these) We had a tutor who went around the room and personally helped you create the look you had wanted to try out for the morning. I chose the vintage curls/ victory rolls. I had seen them on so many sites that I really wanted to learn how to do it for myself. She was so patient and they encourage you to try out all the new toys. We were advised on products that would suit our hair types and shown how to use a GHD for curls, how to back comb properly and also how to create basic up-styles.

We were given 45mins for lunch so of course myself and Karen headed for a very healthy burger lunch. We were starving and I think it was from all the excitement of the morning.

After lunch we moved into the makeup room and I nearly fainted with the amount of products we were going to try out. Our tutor for this part of the day was Leonard Daly. He is a world renowned makeup artist, has worked with some of the biggest stars in the movie and music industry and he was hilarious. I have attached his twitter link, he is an awesome character with plenty of stories and not at all afraid to tell you how it is!

Twitter: @leonarddaly 

From 2pm-5:30 we were taken step by step through our makeup with Leonard listing tip and trick all along to create a flawless makeup look. At every new stage of perfecting your face, Leonard would select a member of our group of ten people and show the group exactly what the element should look like. I managed to be selected for my brows which I was delighted about, he has seen the victory rolls in my hair so created a strong brow.

Leonard is not into the 'plastered' looking makeup, he explained to us that models/actors are meant to look both natural and flawless, the stronger looks are less requested by them and he had a serious aversion to fake tan. Of course this horrified myself and Karen as we both love to change colour going out not to mention love the caked on look.... We did however learn a lot about what products would suit us and exactly how to perfect a daytime look.

I really enjoyed the whole day and I would recommend Beauty Bootcamp to anyone who wants a really nice girls day out. When we had completed our looks we were treated to a glass of champagne and a chit chat with the other tutors.

As this was the first course I had attended, I wasn't sure what to expect but it was a fantastic day and I think I'd return again just to meet the tutors again who were so helpful and to sit in the room with the spotlight mirrors.

I shall be posting about my other courses in the coming weeks.

Stay beautiful,

Emma x

Inside my Treasure Trove!

So after deciding yesterday to take on this blog challenge, I thought where better to start than inside my makeup kit.... I say kit but I mean drawer set, I have literally got THAT much :)

I also decided to show you the proof of this by attaching pics of all my toys. I guess you can see that really I have built up quite a collection but as I stated yesterday and I will be clear to state when discussing makeup, I am not a makeup artist, with this in mind I would like to share with you the insight that I have gathered in learning how to perfect my own look.

Throughout this blog, my plan is to visit different makeup artists around the country and learn some new tricks off each of them. I am sure that with each professional technique, I will get the opportunity to use some of the many products I have already invested in.

When I started my "collection" I was a serious MAC head. I think living in Waterford it was such a novelty to be able to purchase anything from MAC, I decided I should own it all.... needless to say my bank account didn't agree with me! I found that buying MAC made me feel like I was exclusive, however, I still found I just couldn't get the eye shadows to blend like they had on the girl in the shop, my lips although wearing the lipstick really needed the liner and that my cheek bones seemed destroyed in blush rather than highlighted and glowing.... Sounds more like a 6 year old trying on their mums makeup than a 22 year old spending an hour trying and still not happy.

Over the years I have discovered a number of new brands and products and I don't base my choices on price or fame, I am a marketers dream.. If its pink, shiny or promoted right I will want it!! 

Rather than take you through each and every product I have here is my current Top 10 Products I cannot live without;

• Real Techniques Brushes (I am currently addicted to this brand)
• Smashbox Primer (so creamy, forms a perfect base for my foundation)
• Urban Decay Naked Foundation (its light texture can be built to full coverage)
• Bare Minerals Powder Foundation (use both on it's own or over my foundation)
• Blank Canvas Palette (perfect for highlight and contouring)
• Mac Mineralise Stereo Rose Blush (Glows golden on the cheeks)
• Rimmel Scandalize Mascara (Gives great length to lashes)
• Penneys False lashes (serious bargain at €1.50 for huge volume)
• Catrice Liquid Eyeliner (easy to use creates a great line and not too messy)
• MAC Rebel Lipstick (I have loved this colour for so long)

As you can see, there is a range of products I use to create my daytime and nighttime looks. I am forever trying new products but I think that's the best way to learn what suits you. 

For now, I will be writing a blog twice a week starting with my first one day makeup course with Beauty Bootcamp in Dublin I attended with my friend Karen. I will pull out all the best bits and also dig out some pics from our day.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me;

emmajosephinesheehan@gmail.com

Stay beautiful,

Emma x

Brand New Blogger: My 1st Blog :)

Brand New Blogger: My 1st Blog :): So here we are... My very first blog!! Before I begin to enter the land of blogging I would just like to state for the record I am not a mak...

My 1st Blog :)

So here we are... My very first blog!! Before I begin to enter the land of blogging I would just like to state for the record I am not a makeup artist, I'm a 26 year old girl with a huge interest in makeup so my friends suggested I start this blog in order to help other young women like myself get better at their make up. 

For years I was buying makeup such as MAC Benefit and Estée Lauder and not really knowing what to do with it. In 2012 I began attending one day make up courses, getting private lessons and watching countless tutorials on YouTube, so far so good :) 

This blog will include product reviews, pics of me trying out looks on myself and also tips of who I have found to be the biggest help during all my practice.

Hope you find it helpful, make up is art... be your own artist!

Stay beautiful,

Emma x