Or rather Face of the Night…..

Yesterday evening Matt & I went out for an Indian meal with friends. It was another sunny scorcher in Northern Ireland so I was able to break the pins out for a change

The dress is from New Look (’08) and the last time I was able to fit into it was actually last summer on our honeymoon. So I’m chuffed to bits that it fits me again!

Belt is from Dorothy Perkins, sandals from Bertie (’08), so so comfy. Jewellery was a mix of New Look & Primark.

I didn’t have time, or tbh the inclination to tan up this week and so my subtle glow is all thanks to good aul Rimmel Sun Shimmer. I thought it turned out really well, no streaks and yet it removed the pastiness and left a nice little colour. Result!

Make-up was my LM Tinted Moisturizer and Illamsqua Enrapture on the eyes smoked out with a little Rimmel & MAC.

I lined the waterline in UD Lust and used black & gold glitter liner from Too Faced on the upper lash line.

Mascara was the 3 in 1 from Barry M and under the eyes I used a smidge of Benefit Erase Paste to brighten.

Cheeks were Benefit Coralista with No7 Peach Highlighter, and finally lips were Illasmasqua Brink with Stila Glaze in Cinnamon (my current fave lip combo).

Phew, thats a lot of slap!! Always go a bit overboard for a night out

xoxox

Well, I think we all know my first experience with Illamasqua in Belfast was a less than positive one.

I took everyones advice in regards to asking for the foundation to be changed and contacted their head office. Within hours I had received confirmation of my email and a full apology for my treatment from the UK Communications Manager and within several hours after that a phone call from their HR Manager here in Ireland.

He was equally apologetic, to the point where I felt a bit embarrassed about complaining, and very generously offered to refund the incorrect foundation, arrange for an in store makeup lesson with one of the visiting London artists, a video of the lesson, and a new perfectly matched “complimentary” foundation.

I was impressed. A man of action. He took my problem, scrunched it into a ball, threw it in the bin and got out a nice clean sheet.

My appointment was arranged for 11am last Friday. I was actually slightly nervous before I arrived, a combination of feeling bad about the situation we were meeting under again and also the fact I knew my lesson was going to be recorded. Silly I know. Especially as when I arrived they were clearly expecting me and couldn’t have been more welcoming.

My makeup lesson was with Daniel, a stunning looking man originally from Malta, this lesson was not going to be a chore

Daniel asked me questions about what makeup I normally wore, colours, coverage etc and right away ruled out the Rich Liquid Foundation that had initially been sold to me as “much too heavy for your beautiful skin”, Jesus this man was good. By now I was like putty in his hands, he could have made me up like the Joker and I’m pretty sure I’d have thanked him profusely.

I gave Daniel free reign and he went for a fresh coral summer look. I was a little worried when he brought over coral eye shadow, its just never a colour I would think of for my lids. Cheeks or nails… yes, but never the eyes. I am so glad he tried it as its truly lovely on me, its adds warmth and opens up my eyes, I think it also accentuates the green in them.

Daniel’s technique in regards to blending was new to me too, he buffs EVERYTHING. Little small swirling motions, not a window wiper technique in sight. He did one eye, then I did the other, everything was shared, I thought this was fab.

Below are a few stills from the CD I received

We laughed so much, I made a complete hash of the eye liner on my side, but I wasn’t made to feel like an idiot. It was simply demonstrated again until I was happy I could recreate it myself. This is how it should be. I was learning something as well as feeling mighty pampered!

I ended up buying quite a bit, things that I didn’t buy that were used on me were:

• Erratic Medium Pencil, very creamy and blendable but right away I deduced if I rubbed my eye even lightly or was a little too warm this pencil would be halfway across my face. Its a no for me
• Pressed Powder, I’m perfectly happy with my Prestige one
• Thunder Eyebrow Cake, happy with what I’m currently using (post on this coming soon)

So what I did get

• Satin Primer SPF20
• Cream Foundation CF205 (Complimentary)
• Under Eye Concealer UC140
• Excite Powder Blusher
• Blame Powder Eye Shadow (matt)
• Tango Powder Eye Shadow (shimmer)
• Brink Lipstick
• Alarm Nail Polish
• Volume Mascara (since returned, not impressed)

L-R; Blame, Tango, Brink

The recorded lesson is a fabulous idea, I think more counters should offer this service. Not only is it nice to have but its useful too. I was able to look back over mine and see how high up he went with the crease shadow, little things like that.

Last Friday left me very impressed with Illamasqua, I’m now putting my initial experience down to launch day nerves. I’ve also had lots of comments since my inital post of people telling me how great their experiences have been which is brilliant

If there is anything you’re dying for a review on out of my haul, please let me know & I’ll put it to the top of the pile.

For now I’ll leave you with my finished makeover look, self consciously captured in a corner of New Look, I’m giving that Mannequin behind me a run for his money…….

xoxox

Hot pink lips are officially back!!!

Catwalk lips are big, bold and bright! Think Betty Jackson & Osman Yousefzada and you’re only halfway there!

Barry M are upping the auntie with their new hot range and leaving the big names quaking in their Manolos. This is an affordable drugstore based brand thats gaining a cult following.

Why have one Illamasqua/ YSL/ MAC lippy when you have have 3 from Barry M for the same amount of your hard earned ker-ching?

The sizzling new range from Mr M includes:

• Cerise Pink 144 a very berry shade
• Punky Pink 145 a fiery pink
• Dolly Pink 146 a cute bubblegum pink
• Peachy Pink 147 to leave lips looking just peachy

The PR “Each lipstick has a smooth texture and being packed full of natural moisturisers they simply glide on and stay put for hours”

I was lucky enough to be sent 147 Peachy Pink & 145 Punky Pink (can you guess which is which…..) Wowzers!

With Flash

Without Flash

Peachy Pink 147 is the type of matt colour I tend to shy away from in horror. I’m not a massive fan of the blank porn staresque lip “on myself”. This is because my own lip colour is very pigmented and rosy and I find these shades bleed through and look cheap and unsightly.

I am pleasantly surprised by Peachy Pink and that has alot to do with the coverage this lippy offers. One coat covered well, 2 coats was opaque. Surprisingly I think it looks quite soft on me. I like it. My only issue with it is that I think it could be quite drying for a full days wear. I’ve tried it with a thin layer of MAC Sizzlepeach Lipglass and thats working better for me

Peachy Pink.. mwah!

Punky Pink 145 is my kind of lippy. This is already firmly in my personal makeup bag. I LOVE it!!!

It reminds me of the vibrant fuschia pink often sported by Cheryl Cole (I believe thats MAC Show Orchid), this is not a world away from that. It applies like a dream, really smooth and luxurious. I’d say its noticeably more moisturising than Peachy Pink. If this was given to me blind to test I’d honestly have guessed Chanel or YSL. Its THAT good

Punky Pink

I’m really excited by these lipsticks. Everyone has been banging on about Illamasqua and how their range is designed to bring out your alter ego. Well IMO all makeup can do that for you, regardless of the brand or price tag. It all about what you do with it, how you wear, how it makes you feel…… and to give you an idea of what I mean this is how I feel as soon as I put this colour on…..

Ooooo Matron!!!

TMI?

Barry M New Lip Paints are in stores from June or you can buy them online now here for £4.25 each while stocks last. Hurry! You DO NOT want to miss these!!

xoxo

This is my entry to the Illamasqua contest fellow blogger MizzWorthy is currently running on her site.

I couldn’t resist the chance to be in with winning some of their goodies, especially as I’ve yet to get my hands on any of their products! Roll on their opening next week in Debenhams, Belfast!

Briefing for the competiton was basically any dramatic look. Drama I can do

My main inspiration came from my love of all things vampiric and mysterious. The dark and dangerous and oh so sexy. It can be a predicatable look (like the pictures below) though, dark lids, pale skin & blood red lips…. so I’ve hopefully acheived a more subtle look. I wanted to work with the undead vibe but make it less obvious than say the average Morticia on Halloween night.

The second piece of inspiration was this picture of a young gypsy working her womenly wiles. The psychic world fascinates me, its dangerous and deceptive but it pulls you in. The devilish promises it offers up are irresistible. When I think of gypsy women I think of foreign accents, heaving bosoms and heavily made up eyes. To me they are very sexy but not to be trusted.

“The Gypsy Vampire”

To achieve this look I took the red you might expect of the lips and the grey/ purple you might expect of the eyes and swapped them about. I custom mixed a grey lipstick with a mauve undertone, while using 2 Barry M Red Pigments on the eyelids. These are crudely lined with MAC Fluidline to add depth and drama. For the skin I applied a much paler than normal foundation in the form of Clinique’s Super Balanced in Alasbaster and set with translucent powder to get that flawless look. Unfortunately I myself am tanned at the moment so ignore the neck and suspend belief please! haha

I also applied long dense Stargazer false eyelashes. The huge curved fluttery lashes work in contrast to the harsh red eyelids, but then the curve of the eyebrow echoes that of the lash. The intention is to confuse. Is this a sexy but dangerous woman… or a soft & sensual one?

The hot pink blush is Hello Kitty @ MAC’s Tippy and is purposely applied heavily in two very obvious stripes across both cheekbones. My intention is to make you think that this woman is not natural, that her face is painted to add life where in fact there is none. It is an illusion.

So there you have it, I’m very much still L Plated when it comes to makeup application but I am improving (I think). There are numerous mistakes but I’m not about to point them out to you

Don’t take it too seriously and just enjoy it for what it is, fun with makeup
xoxo

PS
Why not enter MizzWorthy’s Competition yourself?!