A simple 6 step 2-toned eye makeup look!

Step 1. Prime the eyelids and brow bone. 

Step 2. Using a flat eyeshadow brush, apply a highlight/champagne colour all over the lid up into the brow bone and into the inner corners of the eye.

Step 3. Using a tapered brush, apply a matte mid-tone brown above the crease and also take this colour down along the bottom lash line with an angled brush.

Step 4. Using a pencil brush apply a matte black pigment into the outer third of the crease. 

Step 5. Using a matte light brown colour, blend inbetween the crease and brow bone as a transition colour (this will eliminate any harsh lines) 

Step 6. Line the upper eyelids and inner rims with a black gel liner and add two coats of mascara.

- And Voila! A quick but effective eye makeup look!

Product list:      Urban Decay Eye Primer

                            Mac 'Nylon' eyeshadow

                            Mac 'Charcoal Brown'

                            Mac 'Cork'

                            Mac 'Neru'

                            Inglot Gel liner in # 77

                            Maybelline Colossal Volume Mascara in Black

Hope this was helpful!

Leah x 

            

Supporting Cancer Awareness.

Hey Ladies :)

Today I have been nominated by friends to post a MakeUp-Free photo to help raise Cancer Awareness. Sadly this disease is becoming rapidly common and causes so much pain & heartbreak among many people around the world. I think this small gesture which has gone viral on social media is a great idea to raise awareness and show support for cancer patients.

*(A very cold night's farming, haha!)

Also like many others, I am making a Cash Donation direct to the Irish Cancer Society.

I urge fellow Bloggers & everyone else this to do your bit for Cancer no matter how big or small, every little bit helps and it will be greatly appreciated by the many people affected by it.

Leah x 

Lipstick of the week!

Being a Lipstick fanatic I must own at least 50 colours and Russian Red is most definately my go-to red lip! It's an amazingly pigmented blue-toned red and looks great on almost any skin type. It goes on easily, has great durability and is not too drying on the lips which I find with some other Mac lipsticks.

I've managed to convince a lot of my friends to get this lipstick and they all love it!

What's your favourite Lip colour?

Leah x 

Benefit Beams!

Swatches:

Being a massive fan of highlighters, I have tried and tested many brands, these Benefit Beams are my top pick for liquid highlighters. They are very light-weight, easy to use and give a beautiful natural glow to the cheekbones. 

They come in a 13ml bottle and last forever-I have mine for well over a year now and still have loads left! 

High Beam:

High Beam is probably the most popular of the beam family and is an irredecent pink liquid highlight which gives a gorgeous dewy glow to the skin. 

This works well on all skin types and is more sheer than shimmery and find it's the most natural of the 3, great for everyday use. (As you can see I use it a lot!)

Sun Beam: 

Sunshine in a bottle! This golden bronze highlight gives a luminous sun kissed shimmer to the cheeks. It is best suited to medium skin tones or during the summer whilst you have a tan.

Moon Beam:

Moon beam is very similiar to High beam except is has a yellow based apricot tone. Also where the High beam gives quite a pastel sheer glow, this gives a more warm peachy glow to the skin. This again is suitable for all skin tones.

*All the Beams come in a Nail polish type bottle with a brush applicator attached.

Use after foundation but before powder, just apply 2 or 3 dots along the top of the cheekbones, under the brow bone & Cupid's bow. Blend in with fingers using a tapping motion.

TIP: For a more dramatic evening highlight, use a same toned powdered highlighter ontop of where you placed the liquid!

Happy Highlighting! :) 

Leah x 

3 VALENTINE MAKEUP LOOKS!

With Valentines day just around the corner, I thought I would do a quick post to show a few of my MakeUp ideas. 

Whether your a loved-up lily or a single pringle, we all like to feel good about ourselves even if it is one of the most controversial holidays of the year.. Any excuse eh ladies hehe! 

                              Soft Romantic

A soft and delicate look! A flawless foundation base with subtle contouring teamed with a soft ivory & brown cut-crease smokey eye, plenty of mascara and a matte berry lip.

                                   Fun & Flirty

               

 

A bright & bubbly look! A dewy foundation base with strong contouring & highlighting, subtle lilac shadow with winged liner and a fuschia pink lip.

                           Sultry Seductive 

                  

And last but not least for the more daring- A sensual & alluring look!

A flawless foundation base with soft coral blush, strong arched eyebrows teamed with dark rusty gold shadow to frame the eyes. Finished with false lashes & a deep plum lip.

I hope you enjoyed these ideas and maybe even give one a go.. 

Whatever you get up to this Valentines, have a great day! 

Leah :) x 

             

     

SAMPLES FROM MY MAKEUP PORTFOLIO!

Hey guys,

I thought I would do a quick post and share some examples of my work with you all.

Below is a random mix of Occasion/Evening, High Fashion & Special Effects Looks I have created :)

OCCASION & HIGH FASHION LOOKS:

SPECIAL EFFECTS:

Which is your favourite Look? 

Leah x

MY CURRENT SKINCARE PRODUCTS/ROUTINE!

It goes without saying that beautiful healthy skin stems from the inside out, therefore eating a well balanced diet with lots of fruit & vegetables and drinking bucket loads of H2O is key to a glowing complexion!

However due to circumstantial factors beyond our control such as hormones, weather, stress etc we can always benefit from a helping hand-Hoorah for skincare products!!!

Below are some products from my current skincare routine (I tend chop & change brands regulary as I love trialing different products)

*Bare in mind some of these may not be suitable for all skin types- 

(I generally have normal/sensitive skin.)

BIODERMA CREALINE H20:

 

Wearing Makeup almost everyday as part of my job, a good MakeUp Remover is a key element to my skincare routine. 

Bioderma is by far the best one I have come across to date and is suitable for All skin types! It has the consistency of water, is fragrance-free and is very gentle on the skin & eyes. 

Just apply to a cotton pad and your Makeup wipes away like a dream! This is a permanent fixture in my skin care collection and I will repurchase forever more amen.

It is very cost effective considering a 250ml (approx €20) should last around 3months with everyday use.

ROC SKINCARE (CHRISTMAS SET): Cleanser, Toner, Scrub & Moisturiser

I am really enjoying everything from this set so far and use them in the morning and at night. (I only use the scrub twice a week)

They are all really gentle on the skin and do their job effectively. They are suitable for All skin types and as they are drugstore products are all reasoably priced.

*I have to say I find the HYDRA+ Nourishing cream a little too rich for my skin (more suited to a dry skin type) I would probably replace this with the HYDRA+ fluid next time which is quite light weight and more suited to a normal skin type.

SIMPLE FACE WIPES:

Feeling Lazy?! Definately not recommended for daily use but we all need that quick fix now and again, whether it be after a long day at work or returning home from a night out (slightly intoxicated)-

These Simple face wipes are my go-to quick fix! Enriched with vitamins they are kind to the skin and effectively remove Makeup whilst leaving the skin feeling hydrated. €4.99

EYE CREAM: 

Having pretty sensitive eyes I find this eye balm very soothing and cooling on the skin.

It contains multi-vitamins and is great for relieving tired eyes. 

I do suffer from quite dark under eye circles *panda eyes :( * and I find this doesnt eliminate the problem completely but it does reduce it somewhat-After only a few days of use my under eye skin was definately brighter and more hydrated. A great base for concealer and a good bargain product at only €4.99.

MONTAGNE JENNESSE SAUNA MASQUES:

These creamy clay drugstore face masks are a steal at only €1.99!

They are an absolute treat for the skin- Apply to a cleansed wet face then sit back & enjoy its self-heating and aromatic properties.

They come in a luxurious selection of Hot Chocolate, Fudge, Red Hot Earth & Dragon Fruit. (Mmmm) 

Skin feels thoroughly cleansed and nourished afterwards.

Enjoy 1-2 times a week for 15mins, remove with a warm face cloth, then tone & moisturise as normal.

Caution: Although they sound delicious, I advise you to refrain from licking them off your face! Hehe :)

CARMEX LIP BALM: 

Being a Lipstick fanatic and wearing it almost everyday, my lips tend to get very dry. CARMEX is a lifesaver! It soothes, hydrates and protects. It promptly restores chapped/cracked lips to their former kissable glory and contains a promising SPF 15. 

I personally find it works much better than Vaseline or any other lip balms I've tried and is just a small investment of €3.99

What are some of your current skincare products? 

Leah x

JANUARY SALE-BEAUTY HAUL!!!

Although January should be a month to give the bank card a rest and reflect on shameless over-spending at Christmas, I couldnt resist having a good old riffle through the sales to see what beauty bargains I could pick up for the year ahead...

THE BODY SHOP: Cranberry Joy Shimmer Lotion 

(Christmas limited edition)

This shimmering body lotion with Cranberry & Shea butter smells amazing!! 

It's a light-weight hydrating soufflé and gives a gorgeous shimmer to the skin- 

Ideal for accentuating your chest, shoulders & legs.

Reduced to €4.99

SALLY HANSON COMPLETE MANICURE:

''Back to the Fuschia & All Fired Up.''

I have purchased Sally Hanson Nail Polishes before and was very impressed with them, so I was delighted to pick up 2 colours for €10 on eBay. 

Usually my nail polish is lucky to see past the first day without it chipping mercilessly, I find this polish suprisingly long lasting and it comes in an array of beautiful pigments. The colours above are my favourite picks! 

REAL TECHNIQUES

I have been a fan of the real technique brushes ever since they launched in 2011, their synthetic hair give such a flawless finish to the face, so when I saw that Boots had a 

'3 for 2' offer, I just had to add to my ever-growing collection. 

I picked up the Powder brush, Expert Face brush and another of the Beauty Blending sponges. 

MAC LIPSTICKS

Ok, so after depoting 24 of my Mac eyeshadows and returning the empty pots to my nearest counter, I qualified for 4 FREE Lipsticks!!! 

(Worth a whopping €72-Save those empties ladies!)

Being a lipstick fanatic, I was like a kid in a sweet shop frantically swatching up to my elbow with all the amazing colours on offer. 

After a long stint of indecisiveness, I finally opted for the beautiful vibrant colours above and they are now sitting pretty with their new siblings patiently awaiting their turn to shine!

*The Products below were not on sale, however as a MakeUp Artist I needed to repurchase a few of my MakeUp Kit essentials!!! 

URBAN DECAY PORE PERFECTING PRIMER: €24

BOURJOIS HEALTHY MIX FOUNDATION : €12

BENEFIT THEY'RE REAL: €24

SKINDANAVIA BRIDAL SETTING SPRAY: €25

I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know if you would like me to go into a full review of any of the products mentioned.

**Last day of the January blues-Yay! :)

Leah x