THE PERFECT BROW: My Go To Products

Being naturally blonde; I have been filling in my eyebrows for years because if I don't you can't see them! Also, I think eyebrows are so important - I'm sure many of you can agree. I have finally found all the best products for the perfect eyebrows! I will also be reviewing the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow product as well as my daily eyebrow routine! 

STEP 1: I brush my brows using the Anastasia 'Brow Wiz' in ash blonde. This is a wax pencil  one end - which is exactly like the mac wax pencils!- and a spool the other end for brushing your brows. I'm glad I bought this pencil purely for the brow! Since the actual wax is just like the Mac one I'll probably just stick to buying that one as they are the same price but you would have to pay more for the Anastasia one to ship from the UK! 

STEP 2: Using a thin, angled brush I use the Anastasia 'Dipbrow pomade' in blonde to draw my eyebrow shape. Can I just say how much I'm in love with this pomade!? I don't know what my life was before it - definitely worth the hype! Not only is it perfect for creating a great shape for under and over the brow - but it lasts so well! I put this on in the morning and could be at work all day (under spotlights) and it's still in perfect condition. It was £15, so around €18, and I have to say it is worth every penny. There is a lot of product so I have feeling it will last me a long time!

STEP 3: I then fill in my brows using a powder from the HD eyebrow palette in Vamp.  Even though Vamp is the darkest of the palettes, it has the perfect ashy dark blonde for my eyebrows! Unfortunately shortly after I bought the product (like 20 minutes!!) it smashed in my handbag and this is actually the only colour I have left! It is the bottom left hand shade. To be honest: I wouldn't advise buying the palette because it broke so easily for me - and the company refused to replace it for me! For the price that is was (€30) that was not okay... so I would say find a cheaper alternative like the essence or wet n' wild sets - they're very cheap - around €3 each - and does just fine!

Sometimes I use my wax pencil instead of powder - it depends on the day!

STEP 4: Finally, I set my brows with the Maybelline 'Brow Drama' mascara in medium brown. Alone, this mascara is brilliant for filling in your brows - but I always use it to set mine because my eyebrow hairs like to fall down! This mascara is great - one coat and your eyebrows won't move! It's matte also so won't give any sheen to your brows. It's a great dupe for the Benefit's 'Gimme Brow'.

So that's how I get my eyebrows looking their best. My must have eyebrow products have to be the Anastasia Pomade and the Maybelline brow mascara, so if you need new eyebrow products you need to get those because I swear by them! My new make-up staples.

Emma x

SAMPLES: How to avoid 'disappointing products'

It has happened so many times to all of us, we buy a new product and then when we get home to use it we figure out that it doesn't work for us and we hate it! The only option is give it to a friend or let it rest in your make-up collection, gathering dust. Buying cosmetics is tricky because you can't return the products once you use it! - which is why you have to be 100% confident when buying. The best way to avoid wasting money on products is to get samples! It may sound so simple but a lot of people never think to ask for one. There are two types of samples: Mini versions of the real deal, and the not-so-attractive samples that are just in any old container. Either way, they're a great way to try out a new product without investing just yet! I've collected a good few samples so I'd thought I'd give some reviews and tell you what I will and won't be purchasing.


Benefit goodies 

Benefit are great for giving samples of their products. They always come in miniature versions and are commonly given with purchases and with magazines! Unfortunately, none of these worked out for me, and I won't be purchasing any of them.

1.'Cha-Cha' lip tint

While I love the choral shade, this just did not work for me as it sticks to every piece of dry skin on your lips! Just awful.


2. 'Triple Performing' moisturiser

I don't have anything particularly negative to say about this product - it was okay, but there are so many moisturisers for the same price or less that work better! Not worth the price tag.


3. 'Fake-Up Concealer

Again, nothing particularly bad but nothing wow. Plenty of drug store products give the same results!


4. 'HELLO FLAWLESS Oxygen wow' foundation 

This foundation was awful on me - it is far too greasy for my combination skin - but it would be lovely on dry skin, so if you have that skin type give it a go!  Also, the sample was way too dark for me. However, I've started using it for contouring so it is being put to use.



All About the Face 

3 face products - all in lovely packaging may I add! This is the best way to get a sample (for free!!) Simply bring a few plastic containers with you a put a bit of product into them so you can try them at home properly!


1. Seventeen 'WOW tan liquid glow'

I was a bit apprehensive to buy this product because I was afraid it would be orange and sparkly on so I decided to take a sample home - and now I cannot wait to buy it! This stuff is amazing. It's a lovely highlighter for when you have tan on and it gives a lovely glow to the face. And its only €7.59 at Boots! Seventeen also have a non-tan highlighter which I'm going to try out next. Boots also have 3 for 2 on Seventeen cosmetics at the moment.

2. La Roche Posay 'Rosiliac CC cream' 

Before, I never bothered with CC creams until I came across this one from La Roche Posay. What really interested me was that it is primarily to counter-act redness (my biggest skin problem)  as well as having an SPF of 30! Alone, its perfect for light coverage on those 'no make-up' kinda days. If I'm wearing a full face of make-up, I've started to use it on my cheeks where I tend to go very red. Avoid any greasy areas as it will cause any foundation to slide off and can look very oily. I'm definitely going to be buying this! You can buy it Boots for €22.99 but you can get cheaper ones in selected pharmacies!

3. MAKE UP FOREVER 'HD foundation'

This product had been hyped up so much, I needed to try it. The make-up artist in store gave me a sample of the foundation in shade '2'. When I tried it on it seemed okay - no better than any other foundation, but after a few hours it was so greasy! And this was the more matte foundation! It was horrible how oily my skin looked. I really just did not see what the hype was about - especially seeing as it has a hefty price tag!


4. Bare Minerals Ready SPF 20 Foundation 

I actually got this sample over a year ago, and I still have some left! It even came with a miniature Kabuki brush which is perfect for small areas like around the nose. I fell in love with it from the first use. It was perfect for covering up any shine and gave a lovely finish. The minerals didn't work well when I applied it directly onto my skin as it tended to clump, so I was using it as a powder! I am definitely going to be going back to Bare Minerals to buy myself one! They're usually around the €20 mark so not too pricey - but definitely worth it.

Moral of the story: if you're uncertain - get a sample! :)


Emma x

DIY Beauty Treatments

I am a firm believer in DIY beauty products. While some products can't be mimicked, there is plenty you can can replace with items from you kitchen! I have tried and tested tonnes of DIY beauty treatments (I've even put egg in my hair - never again!) and I wanted to share with you all what I have found to be the best!

1. PORE MINIMISING FACE MASK

Ingredients: 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Method : 1. Mix egg white and lemon juice in a bowl

               2. Apply onto face using hand or any old facial brush

               3. Leave for 5-10 minutes

               4. Wash off using cold water and pat skin dry

               5. Moisturise 

Result: Tighter, smoother, radiant skin. 

2. HAIR TREATMENT MASK

Ingredients: Coconut/ olive oil, regular conditioner 

Method: 1. Mix either coconut or olive with your regular conditioner in a bowl

              2. Apply to to hair (do not put on roots or you well get greasy hair)

              3. Leave for as long as possible, overnight is best, and wash out with warm water

Result: Soft, frizz free hair

3. BROW AND EYELASH GROWING SERUM 

Ingredients: Castor oil, coconut oil, avocado oil

Method: 1. Mix the three oils into an empty bottle (you can buy sets of empty travel-sized bottles in Pennys)

              2. Shake bottle until mixed well

              3. Using disposable brush wands, dip into the oil and apply to eyelashes as if you were applying mascara, and brush through eyebrows

              4. Repeat nightly before going to bed

Result: Longer, thicker eyelashes and eyebrows

4. HONEY LIP SCRUB

Ingredients: Brown sugar, honey, olive oil

Method: 1. Mix the three ingredients into a small empty bottle or jar

              2. Apply to wet lips

              3. Scrub in a circular motion

              4. Wipe off scrub with water or towel

              5. Apply lip balm

               

Result: soft, chapped-free lips 

5. BLACKHEAD  REMOVER STRIPS

Ingredients: Unflavoured gelatin, milk

Method: 1. Mix a small amount of milk and liquid gelatin in to a bowl

              2. Apply over nose area evenly

              3. Leave until mixture hardens on skin

              4. Peel off like normal blackhead remover strip

              5. Splash face with cold water

              6. Moisturise 

Result: Blackhead free skin!