REVIEW - Real Techniques Stippling Brush

Hi again ladies,

Nowadays, it seems there is more hype about makeup brushes than actual makeup! I've always been the kind of girl to believe that if I have a really good quality makeup, a lower quality brush isn't going to ruin that, and vice versa - if I have really cheap make up, an expensive makeup brush isn't going to make up for that!

However, curiosity eventually got the better of me and I started researching different tools. If I'm honest I really don't have the money to buy whichever tools are apparently "in", at the moment, so it took me a long time to find a product that was affordable, effective, and basically, worth it. 

I've picked up so many little eyeshadow brushes over the years I knew that if I were going to buy any brush it should be some sort of foundation brush. After a LOT of researching, I kept coming back to the Real Techniques Stippling Brush.

On the Real Techniques website, the Stippling Brush is quoted to:

• "be a dual-fiber brush that is the trade secret for creating airbrushed, high-definition results with all types of makeup"
• "look pixel perfect in even harsh light"
• "ultra plush, with synthetic bristles that are hand-cut and 100% cruelty free"
• "be self standing for easy storage"
•  "have extended aluminium handle that is light and easy to use"

It's also worth noting that on the realtechniques.com website, this brush has over 122 customer review votes giving it an overall rating of 5/5 stars.

What really intrigued me about this brand and product was the fact that the creator, Sam Champan, is the amazing beauty vlogger and makeup artist behind the YouTube channel Pixiwoo. I felt that there was no personal or monetary agenda behind Real Techniques, aside from providing like minded customers with good quality, affordable tools to follow their makeup dreams. Plain and simple. And I'm so happy to say I'm right.

I purchased my stippling brush from BeautyExpert.co.uk and it cost €13.65 at the time with free standard shipping. I'm also aware that larger Boots stores stock the Real Techniques brushes and often have 3 for 2 deals on them!

I can safely say that I would never be able to go back to a simple foundation brush again. This brush is an amazing all rounder that really can be used for almost anything! I tend to use it mainly for liquid foundation however if you have a peak at this video here, you will see Sam herself explaining all it's many uses!

This brush allows you to really "buff" the product into your skin, getting rid of any tell-tale signs of makeup. It's perfect for those who might have combination or dry skin, where foundation tends to stick to certain areas unless properly applied. 

Aside from how natural my foundation looks, the one thing I've really noticed is that I don't use half as much product when I use my stippling brush to apply it. If you really take the time to buff it into your skin you'll be surprised how far a small drop will last you and it will also allow you to build coverage depending on what you like! This is great if you decide to invest in an expensive foundation like MAC or Chanel.

In regards to cleaning and maintenance, I've had my Stippling Brush over 5 months, and I've washed it 2/3 times simply in a sink of lukewarm water and baby shampoo. It's still as perfect as the day I received it.

I was on holidays recently so my skin tone is slightly darker than it would be usually. Since I know this probably won't last long. (Boo! :( ) I decided to purchase a cheap foundation in a darker colour that will get me by until my tan starts to fade, without splurging on a good foundation that will eventually be too dark for me! I bought the Catrice Cosmestic's Photo Finish 18hr Liquid Foundation in Penneys recently for about €4 and I've been pleasantly surprised! I really do feel that my Real Techniques brush has made the product which is extremely affordable, sit better on my face than any other brush would! Spending €13 on a brush which by the looks of it makes any foundation look good on me is definitely something I can get on board with!

So basically, I've been totally converted! From someone who never believed in the importance of makeup brushes, I'm officially swallowing my words. If you have considered investing in some professional tools and you don't know where to begin I can't recommended Real Techniques Stippling Brush enough! You won't look back, I promise ;) 

xx

Festival Fever

Hey ladies,

Considering it’s the middle of July, it’s pretty much a given that no matter where in the world you are, a festival or outdoor concert won’t be far away! For any of you lucky enough to be heading along to one, here’s my ultimate Festival Survival Guide. From beauty and fashion, to simple tips for surviving such a messy weekend. For the rest of us poor souls who won’t be attending the likes of Glastonbury or even Coachella (…one day…), who says we need a festival as an excuse? Everything mentioned in this post can be applied to just a day at the beach or maybe even your summer holidays.

Fashion

First things first. A great outfit can set the mood for your whole festival experience. I love getting dressed up to the nines as much as the next girl, but there’s a time and place, and a muddy field in the middle of typical Irish weather probably isn’t the best place to debut your new Louboutins. (or in my case, my new €15 heels from Penneys). If you really want to enjoy yourself at a festival, it’s important to be comfortable in what you’re wearing. You want to concentrate on having a good time, not worrying whether or not you have a VPL.

Below are some outfit ideas for festivals I put together on Polyvore (http://thebeautyboutique.polyvore.com/)  that incorporate all different festival styles, like biker chic, boho, or dressy casual. 

Denim & Red

Mellow Yellow

Bandeau Beauty

Maxi - Day2Night

Boho Biker 

Beauty

When it comes to festival make up, less is more definitely more. The make-up should be fresh faced and energetic, not melting off your face Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz style!

-         Base - I can’t recommend primers enough, you’ll soon be hooked. Promise! Primer aims to help minimise pores and create a smooth, flawless base for your make-up, helping it to stay put for longer. I have been using Catrice’s Prime & Fine for a few months now and I think it’s brilliant, AND it only cost about €3. The texture of it is honestly so velvety, it makes whatever foundation I apply after go on perfectly. I see now that Catrice also have introduced an illuminating Prime & Fine Primer which would be perfect for festival goers to give that gorgeous glow. Catrice is available nationwide in pharmacies and even in some Penneys outlets.

                                      

It seems that the beauty world has been taken over recently by BB and CC (colour correct) creams. I’m ashamed to say I have neither so I can’t comment much on either until I’ve tried and tested them for myself. However from what I’ve heard and seen, it seems that BB creams are basically primers that also contain some colour pigment, giving you a more even base, without the heaviness of foundation. Perfect for festivals!

Personally I think that maybe with a slight touch of concealer under the eyes, along with a sweeping of bronzer around the forehead, hollows of cheeks and the chin, and just a touch of a cream blush, you really could get away with no heavy foundation at a festival.

When you think about it, the less make-up you apply, the less there is to melt off, so the better the chance that you’ll look just the same 8 hours into the night as you did when you first applied!

Eyes & Lips - Festivals are a great time to experiment with some colours you wouldn’t ordinarily.  Where else can you get away with bright green eyeliner in the middle of the day! Personally I think fake eyelashes might be a bit too high maintenance, you don’t want to be running back to a tent in a manic search for eyelash glue! So make the most of your eyes in other ways, colour coordinate your outfit or accessories with some crazy eyeshadows or eyeliners.

When it comes to buying items like this, which are great at the time but realistically you probably won’t get much use out of them, I think brands like Essence are perfect. The quality is great and you won’t end up spending a fortune on something you probably won’t use every day. Plus there’s great variety. Be sure to use a good eyeshadow primer before applying any mad colours, to avoid any clumping or fading of the colour.

 You could also use some of your eye pencils to create festival face art like these:

Hair

Festival hair should be laid back and relaxed but still pretty. There's no point putting too much effort into a structured do as it will more than likely just fall out. Instead embrace your hair's natural texture! Use a curl enhancing  mousse or even try a sea-salt spray to encourage natural beachy waves that don't need too much maintenance. If you want a bit more glamour, why not braid a few pieces, or even use some flowers as accessories!

I've been hearing a lot lately about "hair chalking" which is a brilliant, non permanent way to have some fun with your hair.  You can use "soft pastels" purchased in any large art supply store, and you simply twist a piece of hair and colour it with the chalk. You can even use more than one colour to create a multicoloured, ombre effect. The chalk washes out easily and doesn't damage your hair, win win!

Here are some pictures of hair chalk from The Beauty Department, the website which Lauren Conrad is heavily involved in, if you haven't already you should definitely check it out!

                              Festival Look - Cara Delevinge

I really love this look on Cara Develinge. It’s perfect for festivals! It’s natural and fresh faced, but with a subtle pop of colour. After applying your base as usual, apply a heavy coat of Essence’s Long Lasting Eye Pencil in “I have a green”, or whatever other colour tickles your fancy, to the lower lash line. Apply a small amount of white pencil liner at the inner corners of the eyes to ensure to keep them looking large and open and not over-run by the green! 

Apply a few coats of mascara as usual to the upper and lower lashes. Ensure your brows are neat and filled in if necessary. To give them a bit of extra staying power, spitz some hair spray on a brow comb and then brush them into shape. Dust a small amount of highlighter over the upper cheekbones for a natural glow. Again, I’ve been using Catrice’s Prime & Fine highlighter powder in 001, Fairy Dust, for the last few months and I really can’t fault it! Again it was only about 3 or 4 euros.

Prep lips with a moisturising balm before starting to apply your make-up, then when everything else is done, apply a bright lipstain like Benefit’s Posetint which can double as liquid blush! A lipstain will last much longer than gloss, so you won’t have to keep topping it up!

                       

                           

Festival tips & tricks

1. Bring a mini first aid kit with a few bandages and painkillers, you never know how handy they'll come in!
2. Bring a ziplock bag to store your phone in. Even if the weather is fairly dry, odds are water will somehow find that precious iPhone!
3. Babywipes and more babywipes. The perfect all round product can be used as toilet paper, make up remover and a substitute shower. You'll be amazed all the uses you'll find for them.
4. Drink water and wear suncream. Boring I know, but dehydration and sunburn is no fun, simple as.
5. Take a few bits of food with you should you find that you don't like any of the food on offer! Potnoodles and the likes are perfect and you're sure to find a kettle somewhere! And cereal bars are perfect for a morning pick me up!
6. If you're wearing wellies with shorts, be sure to wear high socks! Ask anyone who's made this painful mistake, there's nothing worse than wellie-burned shins.
7. Try avoid jumpsuits or body suits, getting completely naked to go to the bathroom in a portaloo is not something to look forward to.
8. Test run putting your new tent up before you go as putting it up in the dark for the first time with a few MiWadi's in you won't be much fun!
9. Bring dry shampoo. It's practically made for festivals.
10. Enjoy yourself! Relax, have fun, make friends, and take lots of photos!

So there you have it! Hopefully I'll get away to a festival someday and I can do an "What I Wore" Series!

x

First Post!

Wahey!

So I've finally taken the plunge and started a blog! Already I have such respect for all the established bloggers out there, even getting to this first post was a LOT of hard work!
For as long as I can remember I've been (border-line) OBSESSED, with everything fashion & beauty. My friends & family always tease me for always knowing which model is fronting which campaign at the moment, what celebrities are trying out what trends, watching endless hours of (terrible, but addictive) reality t.v., and of course, spending at least two days preparing for a night out! So when fashion and beauty blogs started to surface, I felt a massive relief knowing I wasn't alone in my obsessions!


Sure enough, I began to practically stalk beauty blogger's sites, on an hourly basis! Eventually their wasn't a post I hadn't read, and my favourite bloggers just weren't uploading posts as quick as I was reading them! It was around then that the idea of creating my own blog started to tickle my mind. However, fear really did get the better of me for many, many months! It was just way too easy to hide away, sit back and let other bloggers do all the work! Then I realised, what if my favourite bloggers had done just that? Personally the likes of SoSueMe.ie, The MakeUp Fairy, and Maskcara, are huge inspirations to me, what if they had never started out? I would probably be going insane trying to get someone, anyone to listen to me about how amazing HD brows look or something equally silly! (Seriously, those brows are amazing.)


In all honesty, this blog is basically a way for me to express myself and hopefully share all these interests. If even one person out there looks forward to my next post, the way I have done for so many other beauty bloggers, I will be absolutely over the moon. 

x