Now available- The Brow Design Kit from Sigma.

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/?Click=285947

Needless to say, this post will be kept short and sweet purely due to the fact that I have not yet tried this kit and therefore a full product review will be highly irrelevant at this stage.

I have always been a firm believer that clean brows via threading or waxing makes all the complete difference to a face, it gives you that groomed and 'awake' look even though you may have had only four hours sleep the previous night. Team it up with a good BB cream or tinted moisturiser, a few coats of a good mascara and a dash of lip gloss and you ll find that its simply enough to walk out of the house with, I cannot say the same for bushy, sparse eyebrows though.

I definitely feel more confident with freshly threaded eyebrows and more willing to talk to people, as silly as it may sound theres always that slight paranoia that they are not looking at my face but my manky eyebrows, even though of course this may not be the case with all people. In fact, I have stuck with the same eyebrow technician for a few years now and I would happily post pone getting my legs waxed but eyebrow threading is a must in my little beauty book, needless to say, she is on my speed dial.

I have come across a few 'average' shall I say eyebrow kits in my time, ranging from Benefits Brow Zings to the Body Shops eyebrow powder but neither has amazed me to a great extent.
So when Sigma decided to launch its Brow Design Kit, I thought it at least deserved a post on here. Now, lets be truthful, at $69 US Dollars which works out to be approximately £40 pounds, it is hardly cheap and may not be to every ones budget.

 Nevertheless, I haven't actually come across a Brow Design Kit that contains 15 pieces to give that definition and design to your brows. There is a similar 'Anastasia' kit from Sephora and even though it contains a brow gel and a eye de-puffing cream, it doesn't actually have scissors, a brow pencil or a sharpener.


This kit looks like its of a good size, ideal for daily use, MUA's, mums on the go and for travel and wont actually take up a lot of room. It contains a pair of scissors, tweezers, 3 brow stencils ranging from small, medium to large, a matte and shimmery dual ended brow pencil in both medium and dark, a pencil sharpener, 5 brow powder shades, a dual ended brow gel (clear and tinted) and finally, a dual ended brow brush (E75 and E80). They have also included a booklet for explaining how to use and get the most out of the kit as for some, it may be a little overwhelming at first!.

As well as being slightly on the pricier side, another negative aspect of this kit would be that the last colour 'Valentina' as shown in the image above may not be a suitable shade for those with darker hair.  However, I suppose you could always fill in your brows with a darker powder or pencil and use this shade to just fill it in lightly on top depends on how you want to play around with it. Putting the price aside though, if you consider just how much you get in this kit, if you are desperately in need of brow help, it may be worth considering, one thing for sure is that it will certainly last you a long time and give you 'wow brows'.  And remember, as this is more than $30 dollars, you receive a free complimentary gift with it!

Youtube Tutorial: How I Use My Sigma Brow Design Kit.



Available from Sigma, shop now at  http://www.sigmabeauty.com/?Click=285947.

Disclaimer: This post contains no other links other than an affiliate link above.

MUA Heaven and Earth Palette Review.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but theres been a big hype lately over MUA cosmetics. Now, Ive got to admit, when I first came across MUA in Superdrug, it wasn't instantly love at first sight. The only thing that amazed me about it was the ridiculous low prices and I immediately mistook it for a brand targeted at miners. In fact, I couldn't have been more further from the truth.....

Yet, not being one to completely judge a book by its cover, I decided to check out the range and snoop further especially when their product range started to increase with face and eye primers, contour pens and BB creams to name a few and that's where I decided the brand definitely had potential and I am definitely not one to miss out on a big hype.


So of course, this meant that my wish list started to build up and right on top of it was the Heaven and Earth 12 eyeshadow palette which I stumbled across on a recent shopping trip  as well as many twitters tweeting away about it. Just the name is enough to keep you intrigued wouldn't you agree?


Without further ado, lets get down to the nitty gritty:


All their fabulous palettes come with 12 beautiful and complimentary shades so that a variety of looks can be created and at just £4, (Yes £4!) you basically need them all! The shadows are soft, blendable and easy to apply and surprisingly are quite pigmented for something so cheap. Has anyone also noticed how the third colour in the second row strongly resembles the 'All That Glitter's' Shadow from MAC?

If you favour the natural everyday look then this is definitely the palette for you. All the gorgeous shades are a combination of beiges, browns, bronzes and creams, enough for those natural wearable looks or can be played around with for that intense still favoured sultry smokey eye look a la Kim Kardashian for the evening. Just sweep the creams and beige's under a nicely threaded eyebrow, one of the nice bronze swept over the eyelids and finally, a brown for contouring and voila you have it! Easy, foolproof natural neutral/smokey eye.


Now here comes the best part, I am fortunate enough to own Urban Decays NAKED palette and whilst these may not be of the same quality and price range (Thank god to the latter!), they are still highly pigmented and impressively, glide on well, no fall outs with good staying power. For ease of application, I do recommend using a good blending and fluff brush though, as opposed to the eyeshadow applicator brush provided, just so that a good amount of the product can be picked up and blended well as personally I find eye shadow applicators a little 'amateur' and find that they do not work so well.

Another trick Ive managed to come across here is that dipping your brush in a drop and I mean just a drop of water to help in making the eye shadows glide on and build a heavier look. No eye primer is required as the shadow doesnt crease or smudge. Hoorah!

It might be worth mentioning however, that these shadows are not matte and powdery and may disappoint those that prefer this but the finish is satin like with just the right amount of shimmer making it perfect for every day wear particularly as I feel they are not quite as shimmery as NAKED, but certainly are a good dupe. Might be best to leave NAKED aside for those special occasions.

Also, it may be best to wrap the palette around in cotton wool....literally as if its had a bit of a rough ride or a fall on the floor, the shadows are likely to break, but the phrase, 'you get what you pay for' springs to mind here and at £4 you cannot really complain especially since the shadows are still usable. If I was to be a little picky, I would have liked to have seen some matte eyeshadows in here like UD's NAKED palette but like I said, that would be a little picky for £4.

To sum it up,  I really love this palette and plan on stocking up on it just in case MUA run out of stock or in the fear of it being discontinued, which I believe is highly unlikely though. You can imagine these must sell like hot cakes so if you are lured in, I suggest you put one or two in your basket and believe me, you will not regret it! Well done MUA!

Heaven and Earth can be purchased at all major Superdrug stores or on line at http://www.superdrug.com/make-up/icat/makeup/ or on the MUA cosmetics website at http://www.muastore.co.uk/.

Have any of you tried this palette? What do you think?




xxx

My Fav buys this week- Quick review

They say some of the best things in life are free. We all know beauty does not have to cost the Earth. After all, its what you put inside that matters, but we DO need a little helping hand once in a while. I'm all for affordable beauty, forget expensive beauty counters, its all about Superdrug with several affordable and professional beauty products, without the not so affordable professional price tag.


Here is a quick round up of my favourite beauty buys this week.

Now the days are a little bit warmer, I like to fake that holiday glow that gives me a subtle sun kissed and healthy look. Now, I wouldn't say my complexion resembles that of Snow White but this is just enough to apply all over without giving you that Orangutan look. I would give it 5 out of 5 for ease of application. Just use the lovely hot pink mitt (pictured) which you have to buy separately at £1.99 and I do suggest waxing and exfoliating beforehand to get an even application, although surprisingly, the product does not streak or smell horrendous and washes off in the shower the next morning.
Currently on a 'Save £2.00'  offer with its original price at £6.99.

I have set myself on a mission to buy and own each and every colour in the Barry M nail polishes range with the exception of the 'effects' polishes as I personally do not find these sophisticated enough for those post 25 years of age. The colour painted on my nails very much depend on my mood at the time and right now I am really feeling the paler colours in this range, the pale blue, the minty green but more so the peachy colour pictured above. Not only is it great as its neutral meaning it will go with every outfit, but it looks lovely on clean short nails or would be a lovely base colour for a french manicure. Looks equally great for a mani/pedi , so natural and delicate and wont scream 'look at me' and bring unwanted attention to your hands!

So you wake up and look in the mirror and cringe! The greasy, fine, limp hair you see this morning didn't look so bad last night you wonder.
The only problem is you need to be out of the front door pronto! Yes, I'm sure we've all been there which is why I decided to stock up on Batiste XXL dry shampoo especially as it is currently on offer at a bargain £1.95, a massive saving of £2.04. Unfortunately, we all need to skip the shampooing once in a while just because we lead such hectic lives, but this instantly transforms and revitalises hair and banishes oily roots. It doesn't require any water or backcombing nor does it leave any white talcum powder like residue in your hair. Hair is instantly left volumised whether its an up do or not, clean and fresh smelling. Genius!

No matter how many eyeliners I look into, inexpensive or not, I always come back to 2true Effortless Eyeliner (Number 1) and here's why:

Priced unbelievably at just under two pounds, do not be put off with the low price. The quality is great for something so cheap, it has excellent staying power and the colour does not fade even in the rain or if you've decided to sleep with it on after a night out on the tiles. (Not recommended, the sleeping with it on that is!)
Unlike some liquid eyeliners, I have never had a problem with skin irritation or smudging with this. The ease of application is great, you can hold it with a nice grip but most of all, I like the brush applicator, its not one of these thin, flimsy ones, and it allows to create a natural looking line and even thick dramatic ones. Perfect for any occasion, a little goes a long way, excellent value for money. Would definitely keep on buying this.

I have only ever used Bio Oil for stretch marks on my body and a tiny scar I have visible on my forehead. Lately, Ive started to get alot of dry skin around my nose and some parts of my cheeks so I decided to add this to my bedtime routine, putting my night moisturiser aside for the time being. 

Although, it can be applied on the face, I was a little sceptical at first in case I was to come out in a rash. Thankfully, this wasn't the case.


In the last few days, Ive noticed that my skin has been looking less dull and more radiant and appears smoother and more toned. Best of all, the oil does not make your face look greasy or stain, provided that it is massaged in well. Due to the oil contents, it does smell a little and you may need to wash your hands a few times after. As with most products, experts do recommended though that you use it continuously for a minimum of three months to really see a visible difference.

Bio-Oil contains Vitamin A and Vitamin E, Calendula, Lavender and Rosemary oils, and Chamomile extract. and does not contain any preservatives. It is suitable for all skin types.


Ladies, what are your best beauty buys this week and why? Remember, if you do head off to Superdrug anytime soon, don't forget your Beautycard, its a point per pound spent!

 xxx

L'Oreal - Voluminous Carbon Black mascara review.

Ever since I started wearing 'proper' make up at the age of sixteen, I longed to find the perfect mascara and searched high and low for it. During my teens, I spent any pocket money I had left over going through tubes and tubes of Maybelline Great Lash, my first ever mascara, Rimmel 100% waterproof in black, as well as several other drugstore brands, however I still wasn't convinced that I had found the perfect brand and product.


Today, several years later, having perfected my make up application and knowledge a little, mascara to me is just as important. It remains an essential part of my make up kit and I never fail to leave the house without it. Not only does it accentuate my eyes and gives me an 'awake' look, but I quite like how the combination of perfectly groomed brows, a few coats of mascara and a dash of eyeliner is simply enough to walk out of the house with.


I realise the hype today is all over falsies and semi permanent eyelashes and I have tried both, girls all over favour this over mascara with some even adding it to their daily make up routine, call me old fashioned but nothing beats several coats of a good old mascara on your lashes.

Now, in no way I'm a boasting here but I have been blessed with naturally long eyelashes and have often been asked by people whether I am wearing false lashes. In fact, any mascara does the job with me, I find that using a good pair of eyelash curlers (Shu Uemura are known to be the best) but any good one will do, prior to applying any mascara works wonders.

But it was only after spending several pounds on Diorshow, Mac Zoomlash and Benefit Bad Gal mascaras that I decided to invest in  L'Oreal - Voluminous in Carbon Black. I have been using it for a while and I have never looked back. It is definitely one of my 'stranded on desert island' product. Here's why:


The carbon black pigments means it is blacker than black so if you are after thick, soft, glossy lashes then this is the one for you. I have been following the recommendations to discard my mascara after every three months and so must have gone through at least ten tubes of this. Over time, it still maintains its rich colour and does not turn ash grey or fade. Multiple coats can be applied depending on the look you are going for without it clumping and flaking, in fact I find that you get a good amount on with just the first stroke but you may need to wipe some off the rim at first as the product is quite 'wet'.  


The brush is of a good size, not too big or small and is great for holding a curl, although over time, throughout the day, you may find that the staying power is not as great as it was when you first applied it as it tends to dry out a little. Despite this, unless you find yourself rubbing your eyes excessively after a long tiring day, the mascara doesn't smudge at all unlike many I have used.

Another positive point about  L'Oreal - Voluminous mascara is that it does not smell funny. Ive had a few in the past who's smell almost resembled white spirit, even more so after a month where  it  definitely was ready for the dustbin, so I guess the good point is that it will not irritate your eyes. I find that it is also suitable for contact lens wearers and for those with sensitive eyes.


And the price? Well this retails at £8.49 at both Superdrug and Boots which will hardly break the bank so I guess it  can be considered affordable for most, particularly as it lasts a good few months without entirely drying out. In fact, to avoid this, many experts and MUA's recommend not to continuously pull the wand in and out of the tube as it traps air inside.

Now, the problem some may find with this is that it may be difficult to remove due to being highly pigmented. I suggest using good quality wipes such as Johnsons and Johnsons 4 in 1 which are designed to remove even the toughest of mascaras including waterproof. Another alternative is using a good eye make up remover  liquid and gently removing with cotton pads and a bud, but best of all, baby oil, not only does it successfully removes the mascara but also, it works great for conditioning your lashes and you are less likely to lose a few strands of lashes when doing so.

This mascara will definately be sticking with me for a while "Because its worth it", it is cheap, does its job and is definately worth buying. I may have finally found my perfect product and brand.

What is your favourite mascara and why?

xxx

'Artist of Makeup' launch_Why I CANNOT wait!



Copyright- www. zukreat.com.

I don't know about you, but when a make up artist talks to me on a personal level, it almost makes me feel starstruck, like Ive met a famous celebrity, especially as in the past, a few, as busy as they are, chose to ignore my messages and emails and are just generally difficult to get hold of.


So, when London based professional make up artist Zukreat, took time out of her busy schedule to reply back to my emails and tweets, I instantly took a liking to her and not just her work. As opposed to most MUA's, not matter how big or small, she appeared professional, friendly and down to earth. As a make up artist, entrepreneur as well as a devoted wife and mum you can just imagine how busy her schedule must be, but one thing Ive seen for certain is that she always makes time for her many followers.




http://www.youtube.com/user/zukreat?feature=results_main


I first came across Zukreat when I extensively searched around for a make up artist that specialised in Arabic make up purely out of interest and her name frequently came up. With her being of Arab origin herself, it intrigued me more. But it was only when a good friend of mine told me about her and her fabulous work and seeing how Zukreat did her make up on a number of occasions, including her registry and wedding day,  made me decide she was definitely worth looking into.





Copyright- www. zukreat.com.




Her talents just don't stop there though. Having worked in the make up industry with several leading make up brands for more than fourteen years, today she boasts a highly successful make up and hair profession ranging from Asian bridal make up and hair, media and fashion make up, exotic Arabic looks, celebrity inspired looks, several published work, a highly rated You tube channel, her own professional training academy and now her much awaited launch of her own line of make up and brushes from her 'Artist of Makeup' brand. Whats more, recently she snapped up the opportunity to do Senior VP of Internet retailing giant marketamerica and creator of cosmetic line Motives, Loren Ridingers make up during her trip to the UK, better known as close friend of Kim Kardashian. Yet, despite all this under her belt, she still appears humble and doesn't brag.

http://www.myfashioncents.com/tag/london/

- Zukreat with Loren Ridinger



Zukreat often encourages her fans to subscribe to her You Tube channel, follow her on Twitter and like her Facebook page and I didn't hesitate in doing all three. I wanted to keep up to date with her fabulous work, competitions, her fantastic give aways, make up and beauty tips and many more.The thing with Zukreat is that theres never a dull moment, each and every uploaded video and work is engaging, clear and straight to the point in her smooth, soothing voice.

It was only recently I came across a competition of hers on her You tube channel to suggest in true Zukreat style, creative and quirky names for her many eyeshadows, the winner yet to be announced would receive nine complimentary eye shadows of their choice! Needless to say, I jumped at the chance in submitting my ideas, in fact, it would be safe to say I got a little too excited in doing so! I just imagined how amazing it would be to actually use an eyeshadow which was named by me and receive nine fantastic colours of my choice....provided I was a winner of course.

Please note: This competition is now closed.

Her website says very little about the AOM launch and products as it is still all very much in the pipeline, although Zukreat has informed her fans that the much awaited launch will take place end of July, beginning of August. In fact, she has no problem with any questions thrown at her and politely answers them. but what I find likable most of all is her ability to share her tips and products used, although it is known that a good make up artist never tells, Zukreat doesn't hesitate in revealing her impressive collection of make up products and shades when asked and talks you through the process step by step, unlike many make up artists I have come across.


More recently though, Zukreat posted a video of her fantastic finalised 22 set of professional AOM brushes, which along with other products in her range, she extensively uses in all her tutorials. With 22 brushes that will only be sold as a set, you really cant go wrong whether you are starting out with make up or a freelancer wishing to add it to your kit, and with a brush for everything, what more could you ask for. I for one, definitely CANNOT wait to get my hands on these and yes the leather case come free with it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi8cnqh-st0

On closer inspection, it is obvious that her cosmetics line consists of good professional quality products. Just subscribe free to her Youtube channel and see for yourself. For instance, her eyeshadow palettes are highly pigmented, easy to apply and last all day long, without the heavy price tag she assures us.


Similarly, her range of foundations, highlighters and blushers create a flawless finish with a little going a long way, again are affordable for both professional as well as personal use. Zukreat has clearly used her business mind here in regards to retailing, whilst she has kept her prices low and affordable, she clearly hasn't skimped on quality. Whats more, she frequently seeks the opinion and welcomes all feedback of her consumers in regards to names, packaging etc just so that they feel involved in the whole process, again, something you rarely find with most make up artists/entrepreneurs.


Putting all the above aside, I cannot WAIT for the 'Artist of Makeup' launch and its safe to say, it could possibly be the best on line launch of the year yet. It has already had a humongous amount of interest and positive responses on line and I am sure Zukreat is just as excited as we are! The 'Artist of Makeup' range definitely looks worth investing in and I am certain Zukreat's products will be flying off their shelves! My mini kit for one will certainly consist of these amazing products, no doubt about it.


Now now, ladies form an orderly queue...


xxx


For all enquiries, Zukreat can be easily reached on the following:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Zukreat

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ArtistofMakeup

Email: info@zukreat.com

Course details: academy@zukreat.com

Please note: I am in no way associated with the 'Artist of Makeup' brand or Zukreat, this is purely a personal review and all views and opinions are solely my own.

KRYOLAN TV PAINT STICK

Being the makeup junkie that I am, I am constantly on the lookout for new beauty finds and bargain buys from a little something that will hardly break the bank, to the not so little something we all need once in a while.

Lately, in a bid to perfect my make up application ranging from the barely there everyday wear to wedding party looks, I have been watching countless You tube tutorials and subbing to a wide range of people, those that knew what they were talking about of course and so, I noticed that they all had these little tubes of paint pots in their kits. Me being me, I quickly discovered that there were the Kryolan TV paint sticks, foundation sticks in an impressive wide range of colours in a handy twist it tube.

Now, I may be a little late in my little discovery here, but It made me think, the days where solely endless tubes of Mac liquid foundations being used, were well and truly over. To be honest, although still popular, I had gotten bored of my Studio Fix in NC42, it was turning into a love/hate relationship. Whilst it provided great coverage for a few hours in the day, it just didn't work wonders on my skin anymore, in fact, it had dried it out, rather unusual since I have always suffered from combination skin for years. Besides, wanting to live up to my reputation as a makeup addict, I didn't believe in restricting myself to just one particular product or brand either.

Having said that though, I don’t usually rush out to buy the new product without researching or reading several reviews on it, my favourite being Make up Alley where I stumbled across nothing but positive stuff. Being a die hard Mac fan and a bit of a snob when it came to other branded foundations, I decided to take the plunge and purchase not one but two shades that were near enough the same, particularly after reading that 100% of users would buy it again.

As I had brought it on line, how on earth did I know what shades to select I hear you ask? I've got to admit though, one of the advantages of the Mac counters were at least you were able to test the product there and then and get some help with application if needed.

In a bid to avoid disappointment, I decided to message a few good make up artists such as celebrity make up artist Naeem Khan and Sukhi Sanghera at Asiana Bridal who both use it extensively on their clients and models and both agreed that FS36 and Oriental would be best suited for a NC40/42 shade in Mac. I decided on two shades purely because I have uneven skin tone, my forehead is slightly darker so I figured getting two shades close to each other would be better, with FS36 being the primary shade, and Oriental, slightly darker as a base for my eyelids and under eye circles which I am forever attempting to get rid of.

Of course I was a little sceptical and didn't want to waste my hard earned cash but I decided to take their word for it, since I figured they probably knew what they were talking about anyway. I was also a great admirer of their work. Now, I guess the initial risk here, as with all on line shopping for makeup would be in knowing what shade to select and hoping  it is the right one for your skin as remember, the great swatch of colours on line are not really true to life. And of course, asking a few good makeup artists as I did before making your purchase would also be a good idea.

Shade FS36- Google Images.

I decided to use the paint stick for a solid two weeks which I thought was sufficient before writing a review, so here's what I think:

If you are looking for a high coverage foundation stick, then this is the one for you. I like the fact that it has good buildable coverage, depending on whether you want medium coverage or full and it really does last all day long, great for brides, wedding and photos.The tube itself is of a good weight and contains lots of the product so a little goes a long way. Unlike other foundations, it didn't require a sponge or brush for application, although, still can be used, I found the heat from my fingers helped in blending it straight away to create a flawless finish with just a touch of a good setting powder as a finish to avoid an over the top dewy look.

Now, a few people had commented that it appeared a bit too 'cakey ‘on them and I could see what they meant. I found that dipping my sponge and brush in a drop of water helped a little in order to correctly blend which of course is crucial with all foundations. I also thoroughly recommend using a good moisturiser or primer (Benefit, That Gal Brightening Face Primer and Gosh Velvet Touch) are usually good and works for me, prior to applying this especially if you suffer from dry skin.

What’s more, is that it also doubles up as a concealer so you don’t have to apply any and I usually top it up a tiny bit under my eyes during the day. I have to say though, it doesn’t exactly smell of fresh roses, paraffinum liquidum, paraffin, candelilla cera wax, hydrogenated poluyisobutane and octyldodecanol are just some of its main ingredients and it may appear quite heavy for those suffering from really sensitive skin so beware, however although it is heavily pigmented, it actually does feel quite light on the skin, although, personally I find its a bit much for daily use and it IS known for theatrical/stage make up so I decided to leave it aside for special occasions.

Putting all the above aside though, the best part of all is that a great professional product such as this doesn’t come with a professional price tag thankfully. I managed to get hold of mine for a bargain price of £10.50 plus P+P from stage make- up shop on EBay as I naturally didn’t trust any other website, one with my payment details and secondly, in buying an authentic product.

All I can say is buy and try now, I'm glad I stumbled across it, and I keep asking myself why I hadn’t come across this before, like myself and several others, you won’t be disappointed!

Buy yours now from: http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/stagemake-upshop/&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2754


xxx