More make up??

Yes.. Is the answer to that, I’ve been buying more make up!

So I thought I’d do a wee review of some of the bits and bobs that have really tickled my fancy…

First off the bargains…

Collection 2000 have rebranded as just Collection and have revamped a lot of their make up and definitely upped their game! These pallets have 5 shades and and are colour coordinated to make choosing shades so much easier. 3 different palettes, 3 different looks…

From left to right, I used the “Nude Grey”palette to create this winged cat eye. I used shades “under the moon”, “drift wood” and “eclipse” on the lid and shade “under the moon” as a transitions shade in the socket. Both the liquid and pencil liners are both Collection too. Next up I used the “Nude” palette to create a blown out smokey eye. I used shade “chocolate milk” as the main transition shade, with “brown sugar” on a denser brush in the socket to deepen the crease, “espresso” was used all over the lid and underneath to create that deep smoke. Lastly I used “nude bronze” palette to create a spotlight smokey eye. Both corners of the lid were densely packed with “golden brown” and blended through the socket with “ember”. Using shade “ochre” I packed that on the centre of the lid to create the spotlight and lastly I finished off with “nutty” on the bottom lid.

These shadows are great, a real creamy texture (if a powder can be??). However they aren’t densely packed and you do get a lot of fall out but if you do your eyes first that’s no biggy deal right?? I would recommend using a primer or a concealer to base the eyelid to give the shadows better grip too. And why did these tickle me so much you ask…. All three sets came to under £10…… Yeah I’m gonna let that just sink in.

Next up is the stinger… I had to write about it because they were just too beautiful not too…

The Cinderella collection for MAC was literally one of the and will be one of the biggest collections to hit the stores this year! The online launch sold out within hours. I was at the MAC store for 8.50 am and the collection had sold out by 9.20 am… The doors opened at 9am. I was lucky enough to purchase the last available “Mystery Princess” powder in Aberdeen. And now having one I would have killed for one now knowing what I would have been missing! The powder is just beautiful, it’s not a full on highlighter but it’s not matte and just makes the skin radiate! I’m a big fan of MAC soft and gentle highlighter and unlike that it just makes the skin glow without that frosted highlighted effect. And as if that wasn’t enough the blusher “coupe d’chic” is a soft coral rose colour with chunks of sparkle that really give your skin that Cinderella moment. The lipstick “royal ball” is a soft blush nude shade, a great one for the summer tans!! And a great creamy texture to make wearing nudes easier.

So that concludes my current spending! But just you wait… StephM.Artistry hits America in 3 weeks!! And our hotel is in a mall… A mall that so happens to have an ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS STORE!!!!!! So just you wait my lovelies!!

I am also just a few weeks away from my 3rd anniversary… I still have to pinch myself that this has worked. If I’m being truly honest I thought 3 years ago I might get to do this for a year and probably have to go back to work. I always say I’m so lucky but really I have worked so hard to achieve my dreams. Each day is a struggle and has new problems but it will still never dull how proud of myself I am. But all of my hard work wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the word of mouth and support every single one of you give me. I really can not and will ever be able thank you enough. I owe my life to all of you.

Right enough of all the sentimental stuff.. Enjoy the blog! Ciao.x

These are few of my favourite things…

I get asked all the time what I use and what’s best and being the make up junkie I am, it’s a question I can never answer. I love make up so I use a huge variety, sometimes things that do the exact same thing but because its different its my favourite that day! So… I thought I would start sharing every so often some of the things I’m loving at the moment.

I don’t always wear foundation, I think sometimes just as beautiful a result can be achieved without it and this little beauty makes that possible. (Left picture)

It’s clinique’s pore minimiser. I think it’s fantastic. It works like a “poly filler” and gives the smoothest completion to the skin, filling in lines, pores and smoothing over drier areas which tend to clog make up. It also has a tint through it which helps to diminish any redness or uneven skin tone. If I am however wearing a foundation I am absolutely loving bourjois healthy mix serum and even more so the concealer! It gives a lovely overall coverage which blends easily into the skin. It’s semi matte (which is big for me because I like matte) and when I say semi I mean my skin is matte but still incredibly bright. My next big make up must have at the moment is my lashes! I HATE my lashes, they are really long but incredibly sparse and straight. Everything makes them look spidery and clumpy. So when I went on a mascara mission and found a mascara that claims to be non clumping… I didn’t believe it. But I take it all back, it’s max factor and its amazing and paired with my new vintage eye lash curlers, I say it was mission successful.

So all this make up is great but if my skin isn’t great it’s all for nothing. I’ve worked with many expensive moisturisers and skin products and I can honestly say some work and some work but not any differently than an in expensive moisturiser. However I do love a good serum and none are better than Lancome’s Genifique and now that it has a new advanced formula… It has me squirming! The lovely ladies gave me a wee sample and I must say I love it. It really does make my skin so much brighter. The first sign of ageing is dull and tired skin and its the one thing I would pay money to prevent. Lines and wrinkles will come. If not, you’ve not lived your life (she says at the ripe age of 23 years and 360 days 🙂 ) but dull and tired skin can be rectified and make a huge difference to your makeup. The Genifique comes in a whole skin care range, go see the lovely ladies at Lancôme and let them tell you all about it.

And lastly hair! I’m not big on nails but I do LOVE good hair. I was recently given a sample of matrix exquisite oil by the lovely Julie from JS Hair in Fochabers. It works as a hot oil that you comb through the tips of your hair working your way to the roots. And my hair felt like silk! I do take care of my hair so it wasn’t a necessity for me but I still felt a difference in the condition. I love good hair but I love big hair better and batiste finally have a dry shampoo for dark brown hair! I know they have the brown hairspray it I still felt it was too grey..this goes on brown! It gives a really nice full blown out finish to the roots without having to back comb your hair. For me it’s a must have. They now also have one for red heads too. No more grey roots!

The inspiration for this blog came from the most amazing article I read recently… Click on the link and read it, what a wonderful song and woman!

http://salubrious2.blogsome.com/2009/03/11/julie-andrews-70th-birthday-song/