My exciting news!

So this little plan has been in the making for a few months now and I'm sure it won't come as much of a shock to most but I'm FINALLY outta here for a year! 

I've had a brilliant year working for Urban Decay, I've gained so much experience and I've made friends for life so I feel like there's no better time than now to go and experience a different culture and life before I get too serious and can't leave everything behind! 

The plan is California for 2 months (I've been before for a summer and have friends over there) and then off down to Mexico for 1 year to teach English and do freelance makeup! I'm going with a fellow Urbanette Sally! (Urban have great taste :P) We're off the beginning of June! How exciting and scary is that at the same time!! :)

 

I will definitely continue to post pics of my makeup and life! To be honest I'll have much more time to concentrate on my blog so you will be hearing a lot more from me! I'd love to start sharing more, makeup aside so I'm excited to develop this! Please comment below with any suggestions or requests! 

That's it for now guys! 

Lee xx 

July Favourites!

I have a few products I got this month that I just loved so I want to share them with you! 

1. Urban Decay Flushed Palette Streak 

The blush in this is a gorgeous coral colour, the bronzer is a tad darker than the original but nothing major and the highlighter has a hint of gold and coral. Two other shades were released also called strip and native but streak would have to be my preferred and most universal in terms of suiting people! It's just perfect for summer! The highlighter is nearly an exact match to the eyeshadow 'X' so don't be afraid to use it as a shadow too! These cost €29 and can be got at any Urban Decay counter (come visit me in Debenhams Henry st. :) ) or Online on the Debenhams website! Unfortunately you cannot order from the Urban Decay website from Ireland! Below is an up close of the Streak palette and also a view of all four so you can choose for yourself! The original is fab too! Kim kardashian used it on her wedding day! :) 

2. San Tropez Violet Skin Illuminator 

This was recommended to me by a friend so when it went on sale in work i had to give it a go! This is a gorgeous liquid Illuminator! When you squeeze it out its a light violet/purple colour but when it goes on it gives such a beautiful, healthy glow! This can be used on/above the cheekbones, down the nose, cupids bow(above the lip) any where you want to highlight! Don't forget that this can also be used on the body so areas such as your collarbone, shins or mixed with body moisturiser for an all over healthy glow! I honestly can't get enough of this at the minute! It's also available in Rose which would be gorgeous on quiet pale skin and gold for the tanned girlies! Violet is the original and was designed for all skin types! This is around €15 but is in a big tube so it lasts ages! This is defo a holiday must have! 

3. Aveda Damage Control Hair Restructuring Treatment 

I only used this for the first time today but I was wowed by the results after just one use! I simply put it through all my hair using my hands, left it for 30 minutes and then washed it out in the shower! Even when wet I could feel how soft my hair was and it combed so easily! After it was dried my hair it felt like silk and full of life, it literally feels like air and is so bouncy! Bearing in mind I've just taken out keratin bond extensions after 7 months so it needed some tlc, now it feels great! I'm hooked! Aveda are a natural company so for that reason their products are a little more expensive but the quality is amazing so that justifies it for me! For 150ml of this product it's €37.50. Aveda are very good with samples so you can try it before deciding if you believe it's worth the price! Personally I think it is! 

4. Wet N Wild Glitter Shadow 

Wet N Wild have only recently come to Ireland but now I feel like its absolutely everywhere! I've heard so much about this brand and given how cheap it is I picked up one of their glitter shadows in Groupie. this is a mid pink shade. When looking at these I somehow thought they were a creamy glitter shadow but when I opened it it was  dry semi loose glitter so your going to need something underneath it to intensify it! I used primer and placed glitter on top using a flat synthetic brush, I then placed jilted, a pink/purple shadow over it! I got so many compliments on it no one could believe it was only €1.99 and yep you did read that right I was shocked too haha! These are available in about 7 shades so your sure to find a shade for you! This brand is available in Penneys, Dunnes Stores and many Pharmacies around the country! If you live around he Athy area then you'll be happy to know A&A pharmacy stock Wet N Wild that's where I got my things! 

5.Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in Sunset Peach 

Another gem from this affordable brand! The colour of this Lippy is gorgeous! I'm obsessed with corals at the moment such a soft summer colour! It feels soft and silky on your lips and lasts 2-3 hours! The colour pay off is pretty good and there is many colours available to choose from! This was also only €1.99! I had to refrain myself from buying every single one of them I was like a child haha!

6. Penneys Travel Sets

These sets from Penneys are so handy! They've had them such a long time now but I only got some this month when I decided to organise my kit! I use the bags to separate face, eye, lips etc when I'm going to do a makeup job and I can easily see what's in each bag! They're perfect! The little bottles are brill for putting cleanser etc in them if you want to be super organised or for the purpose intended which is traveling! These are €1.50. It's crazy how something that costs so little can make your life so much easier! 

They're is a few more things I'd like to talk about from this month but I want to go more I'm depth with them so I'm going to leave it for a separate post! 

I hope you enjoyed and if you have any questions be sure be ask! 

Until next time, 

Ciao for now! 

Leonie Xx

Purchase of the week: Urban Decay Eye Priming Potion

I literally don't know what has taken me so long to get this baby but I finally did this week after being so impressed by it every single time I use it on someone in work! 

This product is available in 4 different varieties and I've luckily got to work with each of them! Original, Anti-Aging, Sin and Eden! Greed was another version available but this has been discontinued! 

Personally my fave is the original! Don't get my wrong they are all brill! Especially for the purpose each of them serve but if you don't have any extraordinary requests the original is perfect for you! It's consistency is perfect and it still gives some coverage for red or purple lids! 

The Anti-aging version is a little lighter and needs a minute or two to dry in but the results are also great! It's very moisturising and helps fill in fine lines etc! 

Sin is basically the same colour as the eyeshadow sin! This is quite shimmery and can be used alone or as a base for a shimmery eye look! 

Eden is a concealer based one so it conceals as well as primes! This is for people with visible veins on their eyes, black circles etc! Consistency is heavier! I really like this one too! 

For me it's between the original and Eden but I've stuck with the original for now! 

This product allows shadow to pop right away without having to pack it on! It stops creasing (one of my biggest pet peeves!!) and allows the shadow to stay on all day! 

Once you try this you'll never turn back trust me!!  

This is €21 or €11 for the travel size! It may seem expensive enough but I can't emphasise how great this really is and you only need half a pea sized amount for two eyes, it will last ages and ages! It's available from any Urban Decay Counter! Why not pop into me on Henry street and say Hi! :) 

That's it for now guys, hope you enjoyed! 

Ciao for now, 

Leonie Xx 

Elizabeth Arden The Original 8 Hour Cream

I've seen the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream mentioned in many magazines over the years so when I saw it at the Irish Beauty Fair for 15euro, half its usual price, I decided I had to try it!

When I opened it I have to say I was a bit put off with the consistency and smell even though I got the fragrance free version! This is much more of a wax than a cream so it has that waxy smell! Once I got over that I started to realise just how many uses this product has! I'll go through them below!

Uses:

 Hold your eyebrows in place and gives them a nice sleek look. Only use a tiny tiny amount!

A moisturising Lip balm. I use this when I'm moisturising etc before I put on my makeup so by the time I get to doing my lips they are nice and soft! I also use it at night before I go to bed.

Relief for dry skin. This can be used anywhere! I use it on my hands,elbows and on my legs after shaving. It can also be used as a treatment on your face for dry skin I personally haven't done it myself as it would make my skin too oily but if you have dry skin try it as an overnight treatment you'll love it. 

It can also be used as a highlighter on the top of the cheekbones or on the eyelids to give your shadow a shine! 

People even use this as relief for sunburn or irritated skin it's such an all rounder! 

Honestly, the list is endless just use your imagination! 

This cream/wax is renowned worldwide and I now understand why! It is so versatile! It spreads really well so it will last you a long time! If you have dry skin on your face, lips or body then this is your saviour!

 It's available in Boots, Shaws, Debenhams and Brown Thomas and is 33euro!

Let me know what you think of it!

Leonie Xx

St. Patricks Day Makeup Inspiration!

With Paddy's Day just here I decided I'd do a quick and easy Makeup look to inspire you guys. 

Eyes-

As a base I applied a very thin layer of Catrice Camouflage Cream (4 approx).

 (All Shadows are from Urban Decay Vice 2 48euro.)
I applied Damaged to the whole lid and packed on the colour. 
I then used radar (Shimmery Brown) and smokeout (Black) in the crease and corner to add defintion.
Strike (Gold) went into the corners and in a bit to brighten it and then dope (light Shimmer) on the very corner over the strike and under the brows to highlight. 

I then lined the top and bottom of my lash line with Maybelline Gel Liner (12euro), I used Rimmel Soft kohl (6euro) in black on my waterline and went over it with the gel liner to intensify it and allow it to last. 

Mascara is next I used Bourjois Clubbing Volume (12 Approx) which I love for night time!

I used Penney's Double Trouble lashes (2euro) and stuck them on with Duo Glue(6euro). I went over them with mascara and then my eyes were done!


Eyebrows-

Catrice Eyebrow Pencil (3.49). 

Face-

Catrice Prime and Fine Illuminating Base (3.49).

Foundation-  Inglot YSM 52 +49 (18euro)

Concealer- Catrice All Round Concealer (5.49euro), Catrice Illuminating Concealer (5.49) for highlighting and Crown Concealer Palette (22euro) for contouring.

 Powder-Mac Studio Fix (34approx)

  Contour Powder-Kardashian Beauty Cabana Darkest Shade (17euro)
 Highlighter Powder- Urban Decay Naked Flushed. (29euro)

 Blush- Light Pink from No.7( Not sure how much got it as a gift)

Please refer to my Night time Makeup Routine blog post on the right for how I apply each product.
 


Lips-

Catrice Lip liner in 090 Reach the Peach all over the lip with Catrice Infinite Shine Lip Gloss in 110 Tangerine Tango.

 And we're done! Hope you enjoyed! :)

Leonie xx

My Night Time Makeup Routine!

Following My Daytime Routine is my Night Time one! 

This isn't massively different just a few bits here and there and the order.

With daytime makeup I do my skin first but with night time I always start with my eyes first to avoid any risk of fall down. 

Eyes

  As always put a coat of concealer on my eye lid first as my base!

For a night time look I generally tend to go stronger on the eyes with smokey looks using black, dark browns and strong golds, sometimes even brighter colours such as purples and pinks again from my Urban decay Vice 2 Palette which is 48euro. I also like to add pigments on top of shadows to further intensify the colours! I have pigments/Glitter Pots from Inglot (15euro) and Gosh (7.99euro) and absolutely love both but I would have to say I prefer the Inglot ones! Many brands offer these so don't feel you have to stick to these alone! 

If I decide I'm going for a strong lip I'll keep my eye shadow very neutral with colours such as golds, creams on the lid and light browns on the crease/socket as the vampy look really does not suit me!

I highlight under the brow and the corner of my eyes with a white matt or shimmer shadow. You could also use your highlighting powder if you didn't have a suitable shadow!

I then line the upper lash line with my Maybelline Gel Liner (12euro). I wait until after I do my foundation to do the flick as I find I always mess it up with my foundation brush otherwise! I do this by starting at the bottom lash line going up towards the outer edge of my brow as far as I want the flick to be, then turn the brush and bring the line back into the top outer edge and fill in the flick. This is dramatic and long lasting. I use and angled eye liner brush to apply this or the L29 Blank Canvas Cosmetics Brush 7.99qpprox. ( Got it at the Irish Beauty Fair and Love it!)


I always line my waterline with Rimmel Black Kohl and smoke out the bottom by smudging the liner. I also go over all this with my gel liner to make it more dramatic and ensure I stays put! If black is too harsh for you they have many other colours available such as White. I can't remember exactly how much the Rimmel Pencil costs but they are definitely under 6euro.

  Next I curl my lashes with my No.7 eyelash curler as eyelashes go on so much better after.

I then put on my Bourjois Clubbing Volume Mascara in Ultra black (12 Euro Approx).

 My eyelashes are the next step! I always use strip, I personally find them much more effective! My favorites would be Kiss and Eylure. The glue with these brands are pretty good but I use Duo Glue (6euro). I just love it. It sticks so quickly, isn't messy and literally lasts until you take them off! There's no lifting in the corners thankfully as that is one thing I cant stand! 

I then wipe under my eyes to clean off any fall down that may have occured! 

Face 

  As always I apply primer first! I like to apply it with my hands but If you rather a brush work away! I can't live without Primer! I wrote a blog post on this a few weeks ago, link should be on the right hand side! 

Next step is my foundation which is Inglot YSM in 52 and Inglot Face and Body Bronzer in 95 mixed.  There's a nice Shimmer to the Face and Body Bronzer when it's mixed so it gives that dewy look .I use an F20 HD Brush from Blank canvas Cosmetics (Review on this also to the right) I apply the foundation in a downward circular motion until it is all blended into the skin.



I'll then look and see what  I need to conceal further. As I've mentioned before black circles under my eyes are the first thing I go to. I always go around my nose as I tend to have a bit of redness and if I have any blemishes or anything I'll of course cover them! When covering spots the best way to do it is dab the top of it with your brush and go around.

Next will be my cream/liquid contour. You can use a concealer palette or just a cream/liquid concealer/foundation two shades darker than your normal foundation. I use my Crownbrush Concealer Palette a lot but also use foundation sometimes and feel its nearly more effective! I apply this under my cheekbones from the opening of my ear to the bottom of the apple of my cheeks in a diagional line across, on my temples and along my hair line on my forehead, down the sides of my nose, down along my jaw line and on the bottom of my chin. 

I then apply my liquid/cream concealer to illuminate areas I would to draw attention to. I'll apply some under my eyes down the side of my nose, along the contour you've just applied, to the bottom of the nose, go back up diagonally until you reach the corner of your eyes and fill in that area. They should look like a triangle! I'll put some over my eyebrows, down from the bottom of my nose, up past the bridge and up onto my forehead into a fan, on my cupids bow (just over my lip), under my lip and between the two contours on your cheek and jaw bone. I use the Catrice Illuminating Concealer and love it! This costs under 5euro.

( I'll get a picture up this weekend of my contouring and highlighting before blending so you can see if your still unsure! )

I then get my F26 Blank Canvas Brush which is the smaller version of the F20 and blend it all in.

I'll then powder my whole face to set everything I've just applied. I use Inglot 22euro setting powder or Mac Studio Fix 34euro.


Next will be my powder contour! I'll simply go over everything I cream contoured with my Kardashian Beauty Cabana Bronzer 17.00e approx. using the F28 from Blank Canvas and I LOVE it!

Powder Highlighting is next once again go over everything you did before except for under the eyes. Instead get your setting powder and just press powder over it this will have a really nice brightening effect but isn't too much! Urban Decay Flushed Palette, 29euro. Some people find this too shimmery but I love it! A nice alernative is the Catrice illuminating powder- cheap and cheerful costing no more than 5euro.


I then put my blush on the apples of my cheeks and outwards. I use the blush out of the Flush palette mentioned above a lot. I also love a coral colour for my cheeks these days! I've been using NYX Cinnamon and I love it! I mix both of these a lot and love the colour it gives!

          I then go back over my face lightly with my F20 brush to blend in any harsh lines!

Eyebrows

I always use the Catrice Eyebrow pencil to fill in my eyebrows and I love it! This costs 3.49euro the last time I bought this! It lasts so long such a bargain! I also use Essence Eye Brow Gel to set my brows this is no more than 4 euro!
 

Lips

 I like to go over my lips with my F20 foundation brush to block out the colour and then line my lips in whatever colour I might be wearing. Some people just line the outside of their lips but I like to fill the whole lip in as it gives the lips a sharper look, it also makes the colour last longer and look more vibrant. I use the Rimmel (under 6 euro)and Catrice Lip liner pencils (under 3 Euro).

My decision on whether to wear lipstick or lipgloss normally depends on what colour I'm wearing. If it's a strong lip I'll use a lipstick but if its neutral I'll use gloss. 

I absolutely love Kate Moss Lippies by Rimmel (under 6 euro) their pigmentation and lasting ability is brilliant! When it comes to Lippies I use Kardashian Beauty all the time! Their Week of Kisses set which includes 7 different Shades is so nice! Its 15.49 and is available at www.feelunique.com!

As I was saying at the start of this post, I wouldn't pair a smokey eye with a strong lip it would always be a light pink/nude gloss. 

Well that's it guys hope I made it easy enough to understand! Let me know if you have any questions or have any blog requests! :)

Leonie xx

Product list for My Purple Smokey Eye!

As promised here is the product list for my Purple Smokey Eye I posted yesterday!

Face-

Primer- Inglot Pre Makeup Base
Foundation-  Inglot YSM 52 + Inglot Face and Body Bronzer 95 
Concealer- Catrice All Round Concealer, Catrice Illuminating Concealer for under eyes and Crown Concealer Palette for contouring.
Powder-Mac Studio Fix 
Contour Powder + Highlighter- Urban Decay Naked Flushed.
Blush- Urban Decay Naked Flushed and NYX PB08 Cinnamon.

Eyes-

Base-A Light coat of concealer (This makes the shadow application more intense!)
Shadow-  Urban Decay Vice 2
Eyelid- Voodoo and Smokeout on outer edge
Crease/Socket- Radar and Smokeout on outer half.
Blend, blend blend!! :)
Under Brow + Corner of eye- Dope. 
Under eye- Smokeout + Radar.

Liner- Maybelline Gel liner in Black + Rimmel Soft Kohl on waterline.

Mascara- Bourjois Clubbing Volume Ultra Black 

Eyelashes- Primark Full look Lashes ( If you aren't great with lashes I would steer clear of these are they are very rubbery. Kiss Paparazzi are much nicer I just ran out so I said I'd give the Primark ones a go!  I used Duo-Glue to stick on lashes.)

Eyebrows- 

Catrice Eyebrow Pencil

Lips- 

Kardashian Beauty Week of Kisses, Wednesday and Thursday mixed. 

You can re-create this look with whatever colour you want by simply changing the colour on the lid! 

Don't be afraid to experiment, what's the worst that can happen! :)

Ciao for now!

Leonie xx

I-Envy Eyelashes by Kiss Review!

My favorite eyelashes have to be I-Evny by Kiss. People are always commenting on how light weight they are, you wouldn't even notice them on after a few minutes! They are available in many styles so there's something to meet everyone's taste. I love Juicy Volume, 03 Au Naturale and Flirt! These suit most eye shapes and just give a lovely sultry look while not over doing it!

In the picture below, Kirsten the beautiful bride, has flirt lashes on. Kirsten loves her lashes so I wanted to choose something full but not over powering. She was really happy with these and I think they're fab on her!

On Mary I used Juicy volume, I love the flick on these it really helps emphasise her gorgeous eyes!

On Claire I used 03 Au Naturale. These are perfect for a natural look but still really open the eye.

The glue provided with these lashes is actually very good, I've used it many times and my lashes didn't budge! As a Makeup Artist I need the best I can get so I use Duo Glue on all my clients but if you did not want to invest in a tube the glue provided with the lashes would do the job nicely! 

Kiss Lashes cost 3.99 in most pharmacies and 3.50 in Penneys which is definitely a bargain in my opinion!

These eyelashes are so easy to get on, so affordable and widely available, whats not to love! 

If you have any questions on this don't hesitate to contact me!

Thanks for reading :)

Leonie xx