How to clean make up brushes. Questions and Comments MUAs get often #2.

Continuing with my MUA questions series, today's post will be about cleaning brushes. Ideally you need to be washing them twice a week, and spot cleaning them with brush cleaner throughout the week to keep your brushes clean and germ free, but I know it can be a struggle with time to do this.

It's simple, easy and you should include it in your house and beauty chores list. Not only will your make up go on a lot better, you'll notice clearer skin, and a better finish to your overall look. Read more to see why, and how to clean brushes quickly and cheaply!

I'm back!

Hey everyone!

I decided to have a shirt hiatus from the blogging world. So what happened while I was away?

I decided to take a break after becoming very ill on and after my Birthday. I spent in London for my Birthday, then after my Birthday I was struck with the flu followed by a winter cold, which led me to miss lots of blogging opportunities and events. With my work and university work on top of this I decided to take a short break to clear my mind and get better, which has helped me a lot! This week I headed back to london with my University to visit some art galleries and museums, did a little shopping at my usual shops then headed back to wet and windy Wales.

Here is some of what has been going on in my life in pictures...

 I was lucky enough to see some amazing works in the Tate, Victoria and Albert Museum and even spotted some Moschino jewellery on show.

For my birthday I stayed in London, went shopping and did general tourist things such as visit Madame Tussauds.

At the moment in University I'm doing printing which is a lot of hard work, I'm creating woodcut pieces, hand painted screen prints and etching plates. We're creating these with the human body as a theme, it's time consuming but knowing its hand made is rewarding once you see the work finished.

Before I got ill, I was able to go to the Student Lock in in Cardiff, which was a lot of fun but very busy! I was invited to attend by Superdrug to see what they had to offer on the night and what kind of Christmas gifts they had in store.

Starting from this week I'll be blogging again about make up beauty and life in general. Apologies for the lack of posts everyone!

Look Of The Day #4

Later on tonight I'll be attending the Lush Summer Blogger event in Cardiff so I thought I'd share my look with you all!
I've done a purple cut crease with strong brow, lip balm and orange blush.
Hair, Lightly curled with Tresemme Freeze Hold Spray.
Heres a run down of all products;

Primer; Smashbox Photo Finish Adjust  

Foundation; Rimmel Clean Finish Foundation

Powder; Stila Angel Light Shade E 

Brows; Guerlain Météorites Blossom Écrin Sourcils Eyebrow Kit

Eyeshadow Primer; Pixi Beauty 

Eyeshadows; Sleek Showstopper Pallet

Mascara; Too Faced Lash Injection

Eyeliner (Outside); Makeup Revolution 

Lips: Collection Mardi Gras Lip Balm 2

Eyeliner (Inside); Pixi Beauty

Blusher; Nars Taj Mahal

Outfit

Dress; New Look, Current Season, £14.99

Kimono; Urban Outfitters, Current Season, Sale, £24.99

Tights; Primark, £3.

Michael Kors Spring Summer s/s 2014 Makeup Review!

After being invited along to the Lauder blogger's event I was sent some Michael Kors makeup to test and review for my blog. This has taken a little longer to review as I have never tried out Kors products and I wanted to get a fuller view of how their products last on the skin, and I'm also at the end of my 1st year Art university course so I have been extremely busy!

I was randomly sent a bronzer, two nail polishes, a lipstick, fragrance, and lipgloss to try!

Each collection is split into three, for a day time look, mid day, and evening. I was sent a selection of each collection!

Time trialed = 1 Month

Illamasqua Eye Brow Cake Review!

As I misplaced my Browzingz I decided to take the plunge after admiring a colleagues eyebrows and purchased what she uses, including the matching brush.

I was quite excited to try something new eyebrow wise as I have been using Browzings for a while!

This eyebrow powder comes with a convenient little mirror in a compact case. Brush purchased separately.

Price: £15.50

Time Trialed: 1.3 week.


Now I must say, I have visited the Illamasqua shop a few times in Carnaby Street and this has been the worst visit in regards to customer service. The lady seemed a little rude once I said I worked on another makeup counter and when I asked about the makeup brush  to go with it she told me two different prices and was unsure. Not good for a flagship store at all, and when trying to decide on her recommendation or the shade I'd hoped for, she seemed to get a little irritated. It took me no more than a minute to decide but if I didn't know what I wanted and was a new customer, I would have flown out of those doors! The attitude instore will not make me not go back but I feel it needs to be noted here.
On with the review!

The colour I chose is 'Gaze' a soft brown grey colour. The lady in the Illamasqua shop advised a colour that was way too light and fairly orange, called 'Stark'. I went with my choice and I'm so glad as I feel it's the perfect colour. I used Browzingz in Medium which was way too copper for my brows but used it until I could afford something better, so I'm glad I misplaced it.

Although I do feel like Browzings did stay on a little longer on the brow, the consistency and look of this on the brows is far superior. The pigment is much stronger and the powder is a lot finer, making it easy to draw naturally on the skin.

(Illamasqua 'GAZE' neatened up with Pixi Tint and conceal in #2 (Concealer only) )

This DOES take practice to achieve. I still have not mastered it fully but I feel as though my brows look a lot better now than they did with my old powder. The brush to go with it helped a lot, my Benefit brush is a little too wide to achieve a clean brow, but the angled brush creates a clean cut edge on the brow. I feel with a few more applications I could achieve a good gradient brow!

The longevity on the brow is a little disappointing the application and look of this powder is fabulous and creates a perfect defined eyebrow.

Breakdown: Out of 5

Value for money: ♥♥♥
Colour Choices: ♥♥♥♥♥
Does what it says on the tin: ♥♥♥
Staying Power on eyes: ♥♥♥
Packaging: ♥♥♥
Consistency and workability: ♥♥♥♥

Would I repurchase? Yes! Although I think I need to try it with the sealing gel to make it adhere a little better.

Overall: ♥ 3/5 ♥

Pixi holiday collection mini review!

I was so excited to see what Petra and the gang could conjure up this Christmas and I was thrilled they brought out a mixture of things to mix and match from.

For me the most striking items from the collection were the eyeliner and lipgloss set, I have many many manyyy Pixi glosses and seeing they have a new formula for these I had to pick one up, as well as their iridescent iris endless silky eye pen, which I'm never disappointed by as all the colours I've got from the endless silly eye pen line have stayed put all day.

I just bought the Pixi Eye Glow Cube, and to be honest I do love the colours in the larger pallet but it would just be greedy if i bought it as I have barely used the Eye Glow Cube.

Review to follow for the lipglosses and eye pencil!

Pixi Beauty Redness Reducing Primer Review!

When I first saw this I was super excited to see that Pixi had released a new primer, especially since I loved their poreless primer! Redness for me is a big issue so when I paid visit to the Pixi shop this month it was at the very top of my list!

Price: £20.50

Time trialed; 1.5 weeks.

Pixi Beauty Makeup Remover Review!

While everyone has been going crazy over getting their fix of the sold out pixie gold dust that is the Pixi Glow Tonic I've stuck with my good ol' Pixi Makeup Remover, and all I can say is move over Glow Tonic! You have some competition in the Makeup Remover!

Time Trialing: 2 years.
Estimated bottle life: up to 12 months, depending on usage.

Claims: Mild makeup cleansing liquid specially formulated to remove all traces of makeup. Gentile and effective. Calming and soothing. Non Drying. For face and eye. Fragrance free.

Greyscale

So this was my final Halloween look! I'm glad I didn't bail when I applied all grey foundation on my face because I did look a little weird! I would have liked to be a little paler but I was so pleased with how my cheek bones turned out!
I also sprayed my hair white and glad I did so it gelled the look together.
I used Smashbox, Rimmel, Natural Collection, Bourjois and NARS products to make this look.
Next Halloween I'm definitely doing something a little more gore-ish!

Contact lens friendly makeup, does it exist?

I have worked in the makeup industry professionally for around 3 years now, and I have to admit, I didn't really understand what anyone was talking about when they'd ask me "Is this contact lens friendly?"

(image from www.goodlookingoptics.co.uk)

And being a newcomer with lenses I still don't understand.
So what exactly is contact lens friendly makeup?! And what products are suitable?

A little about me...

Hello! My name is Jade, I'm 22 and currently living in Cardiff, the capitol of Wales, United Kingdom.
I have trained as a makeup artist in College on a part time course and have worked for Pixi Cosmetics, Benefit cosmetics and Smashbox Cosmetics, and have worked in New ID photography studio and worked on a few smaller fashion shows. I am a welsh beauty blogger and Cardiff beauty blogger.

I am currently starting back at university studying Art Practice. I love art and traveling and looking at art gallerys. In my spare time I like to read and play computer games.

I love makeup. I can't even describe how much I love it. It's great to express emotion and to show your unique personality. My favourite brands include Illamasqua, Too Faced, Pop Beauty, Revlon, YSL, Guerlain and not forgetting Pixi and Smashbox!  I have very sensitive combination skin so I am cautious with what I try, but I am willing to give anything a go. I do prefer smaller and independent brands but I do love bigger brands as well.

Since starting this blog I have had an overwhelming response in companies getting in contact to review products and recieving event invitations, so far I have covered products or been invited to the following;

Smashbox / Ojon / Michael Kors / Aramis & DKNY Fragrances for S/S 2014, Nails Inc Swansea Masterclass, Candy Kittens, Giorgio Armani Masterclass Cardiff, Unique Boutique Fashion show and Charity event, with Morning Meeting with Luna Amani, Welsh Handbag Designer, Tempest Fashion, E.L.F Beauty Blogger Summer Event 2014, Superdrug Beauty Studio opening Press and Bbloggers preview, Paul Mitchell Styling Summer Event, LUSH Cardiff Summer Event 2014, Swatch Cardiff A/W 2014 Preview.

 

If you would like me to cover an event or review a product, please email me at; Vulgarland@rocketmail.com