FOTD: Plum Smokes

I had a rather exciting interview today for a job working as a Makeup Artist in a Glasgow based salon so I decided to do something a little bit different from my usual brown smokey eye, it's so easy to get stuck in a rut doing the same things with your makeup! I love this look, it's still smokey but with a little bit of colour to give it a more summer feel.

Products used -

Face: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm as Primer. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Cashew Beige mixed with Nars Orgasm Illuminator (loving this combination for more dewy "summer" skin). MAC Ambering Rose Blush. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Bronzer in Deep to contour. Estee Lauder Heatwave Highlighter (L.E). Estee Lauder Doublewear Concealer in Warm Light for under eye.

Eyes: Illamasqua Brow Cake in Thunder for Brows. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette using Strange as brow bone highlight. Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden. MAC Eyeshadows in Star Violet, Cranberry, Swiss Chocolate & Sketch. Maybelline Gel Eyeliner in Black. Dior Mascara Base. Dior Extase Mascara in Black.

Lips: MAC Lip Liner in Magenta. MAC Lipstick in Impassioned.

What do you think? Do you experiment with your makeup or do you stick to the same looks you know work? 

FOTD: Theatrical Eye

This started off meaning to be a glitter cut crease, then I just went a bit crazy and it turned into more of a Swan Lake-esque looking eye!

Yeah, so a little OTT but I still quite liked it all the same! :)

Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden. Inglot Pure Pigment in 23. My own Silver Glitter. MAC Eye Pencil in Smoulder. Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Blackout. Inglot Eyeshadow in 23. Maybelline Gel Eyeliner in Black. Eylure Girls Aloud Lashes in Nadine. Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara. Illamasqua Brow Cake in Thunder. MAC Vanilla Pigment to Highlight.

Skin: Laura Mercier Silk Creme in Cashew Beige. Sleek Contour Kit in Medium. MAC Melba Blush. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle.

Lips: MAC Lip Pencil in Nightmoth. MAC Lipstick in Rebel.

FOTD: Orange Smokes!

Hello you lovely strangers!

I've been neglecting my blog for far too long now and really want to get back into it. So I'm starting with a little Face of the Day for you... Meeting up with my best friends who I haven't seen in far too long so here is my face (please excuse the towel turban)...

To create this look I used...

Eyes: 

Urban Decay Strange Eyeshadow from Naked 3 Palette & MAC Vanilla Pigment on the Brow Bone. Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden, MAC Rule, Cork & Embark Shadows, Tan Pigment and Urban Decay Blackout on the Lid. Maybelline Gel Eyeliner in Black. Eylure Girls Aloud Lashes in Nadine. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Promade & Illamasqua Brow Cake in Thunder on Brows. 

Skin: 

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm used as a primer. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Cashew Beige. NARS Laguna & Estee Lauder Bronzer in Deep to contour. NARS Orgasm Illuminator & Estee Lauder Heatwave Highlighter to Highlight.

Lips: 

Urban Decay Naked Lip Liner. MAC Hug Me & Hue Lipsticks.

Jings, I use a LOT of products when I'm doing my makeup! I hope you like this look!

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation Review

Illasmasqua bounded onto the makeup scene in a rather huge way 2 years ago and have left an impression with many since then! One of the first products I knew I had to try of theirs was the Rich Liquid Foundation. With promises of the ultimate coverage available in a liquid foundation, I was more than intrigued to try it out...

What they say...

"Lock away your inhibitions and bring your confidence to the fore. Loved by professional make-up artists, Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation provides maximum, long-lasting coverage without feeling or looking heavy. It blends easily and hides problem areas perfectly. Create your canvas, then paint your work of art."

What I think...

Having used this foundation every weekend for just over a year, I feel I know the ins and outs of it extremely well.

There is absolutely no debating the fact that this is an extremely high coverage foundation, I have never experienced coverage this full with any other foundation and I have tried my fair share over the years! A multitude of sins will be hidden from view completely with the smallest amount of this product; from freckles to acne scars, you name it this foundation will tame it! Furthermore, this foundation also works fabulous as a concealer due to its ability to cover, well, almost anything! Surprisingly however, the foundation doesn't feel particularly heavy on the skin for a full coverage foundation, but if you are used to a lighter foundation this would probably feel heavy on the skin. The downside to having such a full coverage is finding an effective way to apply it and I have tried a variety of ways. Using a foundation brush such as the MAC 190 can make the foundation appear streaky if not buffed in with another brush such as a Duo-Fibre brush. I find the Duo-Fibre brush works well at providing a flawless coverage as you are able to effectively blend and buff the product into the skin. I found using my fingers a nightmare, not due to the finish, but the way the product felt on my fingers BLEH! When applying this foundation it's also essential to be sparing with the application of this product as it will look cakey if too much is applied.

All in all, this weekend is perfect for nights out and occasions with lots of pictures but not for everyday use.

Recommended for: those looking for a complete coverage foundation with a matte finish.

Avoid if: you desire a natural look/finish.

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation £21.50

ARK xo