Summer Glow Makeup Look

For ages I have been wanting to a makeup tutorial type post because I love doing makeup so much but I rarely get the chance to do other people's. So when me and my sister had a BBQ to go to this weekend we took advantage of the opportunity and the lovely summer weather to create a fresh summer glow. Here is how I created this look below.

I started off by applying Garniers illuminating light lotion to Cara's face. This moisturiser is brilliant to use when creating a 'glowing' look as it has built in light reflecting pearls. It is also fast absorbing so you can apply primer straight over the top. 
I used Benefit's The POREfessional to minimise pores and create a soft blendable base for Rimmel's Wake me Up Foundation in the shade 'Classic Beige' to go over. I used the real techniques face blender brush to apply the foundation and kept buffing it in circular motions to eliminate any streaks or patches and make the base look flawless. Then I used the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer to cover any dark spots or blemishes and a the collection concealer to brighten under the eyes. Along with the concealer I applied Benefit's High Beam by dotting it along the cheekbones, down the bridge of Cara's nose and on her cupid's bow, I blended this all in using a beauty blender. 
I then went onto contouring using Soleil Tan De Chanel which is a brilliant bronzing makeup base. I used a real techniques face blender brush for this too as it just has the right shape to get into the hollows of the cheeks. The easiest way to contour, I find, is sucking your cheeks in like a fish to pinpoint exactly where the dark shade needs to go. I also applied this base under the jawline and on the temples in the shape of the number 3.
I then set this all with Rimmel's  Stay Matte Powder using a large powder brush.

To add more colour and definition to her eyebrows I used Urban Decay's Naked Basics Palette eyeshadow in 'Faint'. Using an angled brush I gently applied this eyeshadow in strokes to create a more defined and arched look and also filled in gaps. I always like to use Brow This Way Styling Gel to keep them in place while maintaining thickness.

As Cara has quite small eyelids we thought it would be better to go for one block colour, I used Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in the shade 'Pink Gold' for a dewy and shimmery look without being too heavy on the eyes, I applied this with my ring finger and simply blended it using a MAC 217 brush.
To keep the eyes simple I applied a very thin layer of eyeliner along her top lash line using Revlon Colourstay Liquid Eye Pen and then applied Lancome's Grandoise mascara for long fluttery eyelashes. I have raved about this mascara in a previous post you can read here. It is honestly the best mascara I have ever used and people always comment on how long it makes your lashes look.

For the cheeks we went for Max Factor's Creme Puff Blush in the shade 'Seductive Pink' for a slight pink glow and using a Real Techniques Contouring Brush I applied some of NARS' Laguna Bronzer into the hollows of her cheeks for a more defined cheekbone. To add extra golden glow I finished off with Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick in Copper Diamond. This was part of the Christmas collection so you can't buy it any more. But this gave such a gorgeous, bright, summer glow to Cara's face.

We finished off the whole look with L'Oreal's Colour Riche Extraordinaire in 'Molto Mauve'. This is a pink/nude creamy lip gloss, I wouldn't say it is very Mauve but it does have some dark tone to it. The colour just suited the look and eyeshadow perfectly, it's very simple and I didn't want anything to be dramatic and to just really let the golden glow speak for itself.


Below are some pictures I took and some from the BBQ later during the day.

Katie 

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Motivational Monday

Today, I want to remember those around me who encourage me, support me, love me and just generally make me smile. 

This saying is always being thrown about, to surround yourself with people who help your being. 

We shouldn't just think about what we can do for others, sometimes we need to think about what they can do for us. There's no point in wasting your life being surrounded by negative people who constantly bring you down or are a bad influence on you or burden you with their own problems. We must seek out those who promote self-esteem, those who will put you on a pedestal when you are lacking self confidence, those who support your crazy decisions and don't criticise.

I'm so fortunate to have a family that are there to support me in all I do, a boyfriend that always makes me laugh and teaches me not to take life too seriously and crazy friends that are always a phone call or text away , whether it's to bitch about something or to go out and satisfy my need of wine.

This week I am happy for:-

1.  One too many cocktails with my girl friends

2.  Getting drunk on a Tuesday night

3. Beautiful sunny weather for a BBQ

4. My cats cuddling nicely on the bed instead of fighting

5. Managing to stay up past 11 some nights and still make it through the next day

What are you happy for?

Katie

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My Teenage Makeup

I remember being around the age of 14 when I started experimenting with makeup. In school I would buy the cheapest thing going and it always ended up being the worst. Around that time I was going for colours that didn't suit my skin tone, over-applied eyeliner and used so much sickly sweet perfume I was offending people's nostrils. Nowadays I'd like to think I have my makeup collection sorted and have more of an idea on what colours suit me. 

However, it's nice to reminisce so here's what my teenage self would use when applying makeup after school hidden away from the teachers to go hang out at the bus stops with friends. Cringe.

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse
I wasn't really one to know how to use foundation properly or even apply it right so Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse was the go-to base. I particularly remember buying it in the shade 'Nude' and it had a slight yellow tinge to it. The colour did not suit me at all and I had that very obvious line on my jaw showing just how terrible the colour match was. The consistency of the mousse was very cakey however drying on my skin, I definitely will never repurchase one of these little pots.

Bourjois Bronzing Powder
I still see some beauty bloggers raving about the Bourjois Bronzing Powder and I cannot understand why. I remember rubbing my brush against the palette with so much force trying to get some colour onto it. It's honestly terrible. Yes it does smell like chocolate but why do I went my face to smell like something I eat? I remember instantly getting fed up with this and giving it to a friend who begged me for it. Waste not want not.

Bourjois Blusher
I remember buying my first Bourjois Blusher in the shade 'Rose Eclait'. I had never bought a blusher before and during the big Bourjois craze I decided to go for the little pink pot. This product, like the bronzer, was still is terrible quality and the product just wouldn't go onto my brush. So after lots of hassle with the bronzer and blusher I would head out of the house completely yellow in my dream matte mousse. 

(slaps face)

Rimmel Max Volume Flash Mascara
For mascara I always opted for Rimmel's Max Volume Flash. I remember this mascara being particularly good for volumising my lashes and must've bought about 20 of these between the ages of 14 and 17. I had completely forgotten about it until I decided to write this post and had to cast my mind back. It makes me want to go to my nearest boots at lunchtime and buy one! The brush is very big and bristly so when it dries out it does go a horrible shape and you know you definitely have to throw it away but it is cheap so I will definitely use this again.

Rimmel Soft Khol Eye Pencil
Although I never went near eyeshadow as it was just too scary to me, I did think for some reason that eyeliner was the safer option and to just apply as much as humanly possible. This was before I mastered the impossible art of applying liquid eyeliner so I would just put Rimmel's Soft Khol Eye Pencil on my lower lash line and leave it at that. I cringe to remember it.

Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy Perfume
Lastly, I would spray half a bottle of perfume before heading out the door. I used to be obsessed with Britney Spears' Midnight Fantasy which I remember being extremely fruity and particularly sweet. Everytime I smell this perfume now it takes me back to spending all day at the park drinking cans of relentless and getting super hyper. I also remember having really dark brown hair with a massive side fringe and bright pink skinny jeans.

So there's some of my teenage beauty blunders it makes me want to go through my old myspace and laugh at myself!!

Katie 

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