Make up classes 

I’m a sucker for a make up class, I can’t help it. I just love to learn! Can’t be a bad thing can it? Surely not. 

When it comes to make up & make up application I want to learn as much as I possibly can. I love it!

 I honestly think when it comes to make up- no matter if you are a make up artist or just apply your own, you are always learning. There are so many different products & tools on the market and more being released all the time so just when you think you are on top of your game another technique is discovered/rediscovered (baking for instance, which has been used in drag make up for years, has recently become famous again) or another product or tool is released claiming to make your make up life easier…. 

This is why I love to attend classes,  I’m already a qualified MUA and have attended lots of other accredited courses but to be honest I find I’ve learned a hell of a lot more from working make up artists at the masterclasses they hold than I ever did in college. 

I love picking up little tips and tricks from them that I might not have thought of. Like a product I use regularly another artist might use it in a way I haven’t thought of, or they might have a brush that is typically for one thing but they find it works better used another way etc. Little things like that. 

This week I attended a class ran by a lady who did my bridesmaids make up on my wedding day just over a year ago. 

As much as I love a dramatic smokey eye & strong contour á la PLouise it simply isn’t for everyone, which is why I’ve always admired Jaimies work. She creates the natural ‘no make up, make up’ look so well when it comes to her bridal clients and her night out make ups are beautifully done with glowy skin, subtly smokey eyes & soft but flattering contour. And I simply wanted to see what it takes to achieve the above mentioned looks. 


The class was held at the Brentwood kitchen and began  with prep and then application of various brands of make up (illamasqua, Mac and Charlotte tilbury to name a few) & lashes accompanied by a lovely iced coffee and home made Victoria sponge 😋


Makeup + cake + coffee = HEAVEN! 

I learned some fab tips when it comes to application and decided on a few more make up purchases (of course 😉)  after seeing her work her magic. 
I really enjoyed myself and look forward to attempting to recreate the look we were shown at some point this week. 

The final result 


I’d definitely recommend attending Jaimies future classes to anyone. And I look forward to attending another in the near future I think there may be a Christmas one coming up. 

I also attended a seminar in London this week with my favourite Youtuber Amy of ‘Amy’s make up box’ so I’ll be writing another post to tell you all about that one 🙂 

Are you a make up artist? 

Are there any classes you would recommend? 

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30 day blogger challenge: my skincare regime 

  Looking after your skin is really important no matter how old you are. This is something that’s always been drummed into me. But I’ll be completely honest and admit that after a few glasses of vino cleansing, toning & moisturising aren’t exactly on my list of ‘things to do’ before I pass out on my pillow. But brownie points to those who do! Your skin will thank you one day. 

Considering I’m qualified in facials and know a hell of a lot about how to look after my skin, my skincare routine is pretty basic and I really should invest a bit more time and money into it. But I’ll add that to my list of things I should do but don’t. 

So here are the products that are working for me at the moment. 

 

Good old Garnier Micellar water. One of my holy grail products! I can’t recommend it enough. Removes my make up with minimal effort, doesn’t dry my skin out And is cheap as chips! 

  
 Lancôme gel éclat clarifying cleanser. I use this morning and night. It doesn’t make my skin feel tight which having dry, sensitive skin is kind of hard to find in a face wash. Smells lovely and gives me that squeaky clean feeling but doesn’t leave my face feeling dry. 

  It’s an oldie but a goodie! Olay beauty fluid My nan swears by it and she looks amazing for her age just to add. I use this as a night cream as a few specific night creams were way too rich for my skin so I’m yet to find one I like that works for me. And yes I know I need to jump in the anti ageing bandwagon but I can’t bring myself to buy a ’30-40′ version of face cream now that I’ve entered that age bracket according to Olay & Garnier. So thanks for that 👍🏼 !! 
  Embryolisse lait creme concentre is my day cream of choice. It has many uses (find out Here) but it hydrates my skin and acts as the perfect primer before I apply my make up, it instantly gets rid of any dry patches on contact! It’s like a little miracle in a tube. (It’s also in my professional make up kit too) 
  
Benefit- it’s potent: my current eye cream of choice, purely because it came in a recent birchbox. But it does what it says on the tin-sort of. (it’s really a jar) it brightens and hydrates my eye area a bit I suppose but I’m yet to see it fade my dark circles and give me ‘younger looking eyes’ who even writes that stuff?? I’m 30 not stupid 😒 

  
Garnier- goodbye dry facial wipes. I switch between these and the Micellar wipes for those lazy evenings where I don’t have the time or energy to do the usual routine. Better than nothing right? WRONG!! 

Cleansing wipes will dry out any skin type worse than the Sahara! So don’t get attached to those soggy little wipes that pretend to make your life easier. 

Use make up wipes daily & wonder why your skin never co-operates? That’s the reason. 

So that’s my honest, but probably not so great skin care routine. (If you can call it that.)

Are there any skincare products you swear by? 

Let me know in the comments 🙂

See you tomorrow 

Sam 🙂 x 

30 day blogger challenge: Bold lips 

  
Hi, Hope you are all enjoying the lovey weather On this sunny Sunday afternoon! 

Today’s post as you probably guessed by the title is bold lips. 

I very rarely wear lipstick but when I do it’s far from bold! I’m a nude lips kinda gal. (Mac blush teddy is my all time fave!) So it’s very rare to see me with any kind of colour on my lips. 

However I recently attended an Urban Decay make up masterclass and received a sample (hence the size) of their Revolution lipgloss in ‘Scandal’ so I thought I’d give it a try. Check it out Here 

  
Even for a sample they didn’t scrimp on the packaging and the full size is just as pretty.  It’s a gorgeous fuchsia pink and the pigmentation is fantastic, it doesn’t have that horrible sticky feeling and it wears off well. It left a subtle wash of pink after 2 hours of wear and I didn’t feel the need to have to reapply. I’m definitely impressed.

 
It may not be enough to sway me to wear more bright colours, but I’m definitely putting this gloss on my wish list for when the spending ban is over but in a more wearable everyday shade.  

 Have you tried the lip revolution range? Let me know what you thought. 

This weeks mani!   

Gelish in ‘sweet thang’ matted with gold filigrees over the top. Find them Here they are a great way to transform your regular manicure in seconds! 

Keep your eyes peeled for tomorrow’s post on ‘my favourite eyeliners’ 

See you there 🙂 

Sam x

30 day blogger challenge: Put your iPod on shuffle & list the first 10 songs 

Happy Saturday people!   It’s Only a quick one! Don’t worry. 

I’m being completely honest so promise you won’t laugh! 

I have a really random taste in music (so I’ve been told) and will literally download anything I like the sound of after 5 seconds. 

I think the most random one I’ve ever downloaded was a French song I heard in a water park whilst in Egypt. Thank God for Shazam aye? It’s called Alors on danse by Stromae if you want a listen ☺️Anyways it can’t be that bad really as it ended up in the sex and the city film! 

My poor child is subjected to my random music choices on journeys out, however she clearly has good taste seeing as she knows every word to some Alexander O’neal tunes (criticise is our favourite singalong in the car song) 

So! My 10 songs are: 

  1. Say something- Timberland feat Drake 
  2. Break of dawn- Rhythm on the loose 
  3. You are my starship- Dazz band
  4. You give me something- Jamiroquai
  5. Come close- Common 
  6. Ascension- Maxwell 
  7. Tears- Frankie Knuckles
  8. Good for you- Selena Gomez
  9. Sincere- Mj Cole 
  10. Feelings- Shy FX 

Well that’s not as embarrassing as I thought it would be! Apart from ahem- Selena Gomez but let’s say no more on that! 

Do you have a cringey favourite song? Let me know In the comments 🙂 

Tomorrow’s 30 day challenge is ‘Bold lips’ 

See you then 🙂 

Sam x