May 2012
21 posts
10 tags
Get The Look: Salvatore Ferragamo A/W 2012
Earthy, tonal make-up looks have been popping up on the runways a lot this year from designers such as Derek Lam and Versace providing a contrast to the shimmering metallics favoured by many designers. For their Autumn/Winter 2012 show, Salvatore Ferragamo created this interesting take in a smokey eye that gives a sense of drama without being too full on or stark.
The key to recreating this...
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Treat You Feet: Lush Home Spa
With the warm weather continuing this week it’s been the perfect time to start wearing flip flops and sandals - but sadly, winter feet aren’t the prettiest, so why not treat your feet to a little Lush home spa experience in just two easy steps? To start, the intensive exfoliating action of their Stepping Stones removes stubborn dead skin and gets circulation going to improve the look...
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Diego Dalla Palma: Anteprima Collection
Diego Dalla Palma may not be a name many are familiar with but the world renowned make-up artist from Milan has worked on countless Vogue covers and international high fashion magazines over the last 5 decades. Palma created his signature make-up collection in the mid 1970s, predating cult brands MAC, Shu Uemura and Illamasqua and since then it has gained a devoted following amongst...
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Trend Alert: Petal Pinks & Rosebud Lips
There’s a distinct romanticism on the runways this summer with houses like Balmain, Louis Vuitton and Matthew Williamson all opting for very delicate pink tones and soft, rosebud lips. A feminine twist on the “barely there” trend that pops up each year, this look is definitely more wearable on a day to day basis and won’t leave you looking or feeling washed out.
A top...
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Wobble Be Gone: Soap & Glory Sit Tight Super...
Soap & Glory’s original Sit Tight anti-cellulite treatment was an instant best seller when it was launched a few years ago but in a bid to up their own game they’ve introduced a new version this year called Sit Tight Super Intense XS. The new formula is filled to the brim with specialised ingredients such as caffeine and xymenic acid (a sandalwood extract) which promise better...
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New: Clinique Even Better Concealer
The latest addition to Clinique’s make-up collection comes in the form of the new “Even Better” concealer; designed to hydrate and brighten the delicate under-eye area and disguise pigment spots throughout the day thanks to the special vitamin C formula. Available in 4 shades, the texture is creamy and can be easily blended with fingers tips or a brush to leave a smooth,...
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Quick Tip: Reviving Dried out Mascara
There are some mascaras that just seem to dry out really quickly, leaving you with mascara/cement that could hold a house together. Sadly, YSL False Lash Effect is one such culprit from the luxury market; as a product it gives great results and is definitely in my top 5 for creating thicker, fuller lashes - but it only lasts a couple of weeks before turning into a blobby, dry mess.
Here’s a...
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Get The Look: U Magazine "Turkish Delight"
Sweet shop trends are reining supreme this season so when asked to create some looks using Maybelline my first though was this “Turkish Delight” make-up which was specially designed for U Magazine’s recent issue. Channel balmy, Indian summer nights for a metallic interpretation of 1930s vintage make-up. I teamed a sheer base with hints of the new 24Hr Colour Tattoo in Forever...
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Every Day Moisturiser: Philosophy Hope In A Jar
Finding a good all round daily moisturiser can be tricky but thankfully there’s no real thinking involved with Philosophy’s Hope In A Jar as they’ve done all the hard work!
With three varieties to choose from in the range there’s something to suit everyone whether you’ve got combination, dry or oily skin with each providing anti-oxidant properties as well as...
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New: L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate Collection
This week L’Occitane have introduced a new summer fragrance collection that is as feminine as they come; pretty in pink and perfectly floral for the holiday season ahead. A light blend of peony and rose petals with a hint of lily of the valley - the Pivoine Delicate EDT is accompanied by a delicately scented shea butter hand cream to soothe and moisturise. The collection also features a...
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Burts Bees: Travel Friendly Kits
Whether you’re planning for a weekend away or something slightly longer this summer, a trip to the airport inevitably means having to downsize your beauty products - so to make things easier, Burts Bees have created some travel friendly kits filled with their best selling, natural products. There are 4 to choose from and range in price from €15.95-€16.95, including the Head to Toe (above),...
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Estee Lauder: Bronze Goddess Capri Collection 2012
It’s time to get yourself into the holiday spirit with Estee Lauder’s newest Capri collection Bronze Goddess; boasting a perfect line up of products to make your complexion glow and eyes sparkle in the sunlight. Leading the collection is the new Illuminating Powder Gelee, a soft bronzer with a unique tri-brid formula that hydrates skin thanks to a combination of gel/wax and powder...
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Zing Pop: Citrus Nail Trend
Fun and flirty, citrus shades are huge news for nails this summer and are the perfect way to stay in vogue without breaking the bank. A little flash of colour can go a long way, so whether you’re thinking of going for a full manicure or just a touch on your toes to bring attention to a new pair of sandals, a fresh yellow, tangerine or lime will brighten any day (whatever the weather!)
If you’re...
13 tags
Quick Tip: Fixing Mismatched Foundation
During the summer months, most of us like to look like we’ve managed to get a bit of a tan, whether that be through natural means or by taking the false tan route. Many women keep a separate foundation for winter and summer to differentiate their skin tones - but there really isn’t any need!
As a make-up artist, I’m always mixing up different foundations to match my clients’ skin...
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Dita Von Teese: Art Deco "Classics" Collection
There are few women that can match the sizzling beauty of Dita Von Teese but thanks to her latest collaboration with Art Deco make-up we can at least have a go! The Classics series features key pieces, central to recreating her iconic look, that she believes can ”Transform an ordinary woman into an extraordinary one.” About the perceptions of her own beauty Dita says; “Glamour...
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DIY: Banana & Almond Oil Hair Mask
Shiny lustrous hair is a must have, no matter whether you’re blonde, red or brunette and this creamy Banana and Almond Oil deep conditioning mask will work wonders on tired, stressed out locks. Almond oil is full of vitamin E and other protein boosting nutrients which will help to repair the tell tale signs over over styling, without leaving your hair greasy or heavy. Banana gives a creamy...
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Maybe You Won: Maybe Its The Maybelline Give Away!...
To coincide with the official Maybelline shoot coming out in U Magazine today Pretty Easy has been running a give away for the past couple of weeks, and now, 2 lucky winners have bagged themselves some serious goodies including:
Illegal Lengths Mascara, Super Stay 10 Hr Tint Gloss, 24 Colour Tattoo eye shadows in Endless Purple & On and On Bronze, a Dream Nude Airfoam Foundation as well...
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MP3: Top Picks for Combatting Oily Skin &...
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Quick Tip: Dewy Skin That Lasts
Dewy skin has proven to be consistently popular for Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter shows as well this year, with designers like Chanel, Dior & Louis Vuitton all ensuring their models had luminous, youthful complexions to compliment the clean & sleek hair styles. It can be a tough balancing act when trying to create a dewy look though as most people have combination skin, which often...
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Did You Know?
Deciphering the list of ingredients in beauty products can be difficult as for legal reasons, most cosmetic companies use specific, scientific terminology instead of every day names when listing key ingredients. Tocopherol for example is something that you’ll often see listed on moisturiser, lipsticks or hand cream, but that’s just the technical name for good, old fashioned…. Vitamin E!
April 2012
22 posts
12 tags
Back from the Brink: Beauty Skin Saviours
With the ever changing weather we seem to be getting these days, our skin can get confused - suffering from dehydration as well as a seriously lack lustre appearance. Fear not as there are some special skin remedies out there to calm, soothe and revive; leaving your skin feeling better and looking back to normal in no time.
Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Mask: Wave bye bye to dull...
15 tags
Flawless Face: Mineral Foundations
Mineral foundation is a great way to achieve a polished, natural look in a short amount of time as it’s basically 3 in 1: foundation, concealer & powder. There are so many different brands and types of mineral foundation available though that it’s becoming harder to known which ones will achieve the results you’d expect from a foundation as well as the benefit of fewer chemicals. Here are...
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Photo Shoot: Belfast Telegraph
Last month I was asked to do a shoot for Debehams with the lovely Hannah Devane, who you might recognise as one of the contestants from last year’s Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model. Having been hand picked by Elle Macpherson herself whilst she strolled around Brown Thomas, Hannah’s gone on to be signed with Andrea Roche Model Management here in Dublin and was an absolute...
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Spotlight on: Eyeko Cosmetics
Newly available in Harvey Nichols, Eyeko are a make-up brand that is one part fashion and one part rock and roll with a collection of eye products that are sure to get people buzzing. Undoubtedly, the center piece of the collection are the 3 mascaras which give you the option of thickening, curling and lengthening; with each giving great results. The malleable tube packaging makes sure no...
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Limited Edition: L'Occitane Almond Shaping Delight
Heading into the summer months means we’re all bound to start reaching for the anti-cellulite creams in a bid to look as good as possible when holidays arrive, in anticipation of this L’Occitane have released a limited edition massage gel as part of their Almond collection simply named; Shaping Delight. The lightly scented gel works in two different ways, draining toxins as well as...
15 tags
Make-up Artist Tip: Pigment Pots
A lot of people own pure colour pigments such as the ones available in MAC or Make Up Forever, but are rarely told by sales staff the multitude of functions these little pots actually have; meaning they’re usually only used as eye shadow. The real beauty of pure colour pigments, and what separates them from regular eye shadows is that they can be mixed with basic beauty staples such as...
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Nail Art Made Easy: Sally Hansen Salon Effects
Nail art is big business these days, and wraps are by all accounts the easiest and most cost effective way to get rock star nails with killer attitude á la Katy Perry or Rihanna. Recently I was doing a shoot where I was handed a pack of Sally Hansen Nail Effects and asked to put them on my model - I’d never used them before and found myself thanking God that there are 16 in the packet; meaning...
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Photo Shoot: Behind the Scenes
Yesterday I was hard at work on a beauty shoot for Maybelline which is coming out on 7th May in U Magazine and being previewed on TV3 fashion show Xposé next week. Shot by Lili Forberg, the theme of the photo shoot revolved around sweet shops and traditional confectionary so I created 6 different looks that covered all the bases in terms of old favourites ranging from Glacier mints (above) to...
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DIY: Chocolate & Orange Sugar Scrub
Get yourself smelling and looking gorgeous with this luxurious Chocolate and Orange Sugar Scrub! Dark cocoa is packed full of skin brightening proteins and nutrients which will leave your complexion toned and glowing. The natural exfoliating action of the sugar gives skin a silky smooth feel while added orange juice will not only give a zesty scent but aid regeneration of new cells and boost...
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Bat Those Lashes: Lancome "Doll Eyes" Mascara
Lancome launched their original Hypnose mascara in 2004 and since then it has become a world’s best seller, with one snapped up every 4 seconds! Following on from its success, the brand released Hypnose Drama in 2009 and Precious Cils in 2010; the former designed to create show stopping volume and the latter to regenerate & strengthen lashes. With their latest Hypnose offering...
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New Favourites: Make-up & Skin Care
In general beauty lovers can be a bit fickle, flitting between brands and products like restless butterflies in the hopes of finding the next big thing. Mind you, I only feel confident saying that because I know I’m guilty of it too - I have a few staples that work for me, but other than that it’s anyone’s game. To be fair though, there’s nothing quite like finding new potions and lotions that...
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Sunshine in a Bottle: Better You Vitamin D Spray
Now a days we’re all a lot more conscious about protecting our skin from harmful UV rays; that is, on the days that the sun decides to actually make an appearance on these shores! Combine that with busy lives and large amounts of time spent indoors working, exercising or just relaxing, our systems are often left depleted of vitamin D. Known as the “sunshine vitamin”, vitamin D...
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Day to Night: Keeping Make-Up Fresh
Early starts and long days often mean that make-up can start to look a little shiny come lunch time but there’s an easy way to combat combination or oily skin. Simply powdering over make-up can lead to patchiness appearing on your foundation so to keep your make-up looking fresh as a daisy all day why not try a secret make-up artist trick - blotting paper?
There are plenty of expensive...
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Fragrance: Bell Jar Technology
Have you ever found yourself wondering how a fragrance can claim to have “notes of Malaysian summer rain” or a hint of “Parisian cinnamon apple cake” and just thought… hmm, are they just trying to make it sound as fancy as possible? As far fetched as something might sound, the creator of that fragrance will have gone to great lengths to capture that specific smell,...
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Trend Alert: Aquatic Gloss
There’s been a surge in brightly toned eye shadows, liners and mascara this year thanks to the current Aquatics trend being championed by designers such as Emanuel Ungaro, Anna Sui and Vivienne Westwood. Mimicking the natural beauty of tropical fish, sea life and coral reefs, a host of blues, vivid yellows and reds have been seen popping up on runways for S/S 2012 with a twist; a glossy...
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Back to Basics: EO Natural Beauty
There’s nothing quite like an entire weekend filled with E numbers and chocolate to reinvigorate those bygone, new year’s detox resolutions so if you’re looking for something to cleanse your skin, hair & senses look no further than EO beauty. Newly available in Ireland but originating from California, the brand was founded in 1995 by Brad and Susan Black and is still a...
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Lush: Hoppy Easter & The Immaculate Egg-Ception
If you’re looking for a last minute gift to bring round to the family then why not pop into Lush? Whatever the season you’re always guaranteed to find a selection of suitable smellies in store and this Easter they haven’t disappointed. The adorable Hoppy Easter bath bomb gift set (with reuseable, environmentally friendly cloth packaging) and The Immaculate Egg-ception are just...
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Earth Month: Origins Global ReLeaf Project & Trade...
Since they first launched in 1990, Origins have been committed to helping the environment through the use of ethical, earth and animal friendly packaging, practices and policies and most recently have established a special partnership with the Global Releaf project who help to restore areas of damaged wildlife as well as clean polluted water & air supplies. For Earth Month, between 15th-28th...
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Celebrating 20 Years: YSL Touche Eclat
This year YSL are set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Touche Eclat with a special Touche Éclat Celebration Edition (available from 18th April) featuring a designinspired by Stefano Pilati’s latest jewellery collection. With one sold every 20 seconds somewhere in the world, it’s safe to say that the little gold pen has become a true beauty icon over the past 20 years as well as a firm...
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Introducing: Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+
It’s been 10 years since Trilogy first launched their award winning Certified Organic Rosehip Oil and to mark the occasion they’ve created the new Antioxidant+ which is sure to gather an even larger cult following. “A new level of innovation for natural skincare” the advanced formula offers the same benefits of the original including healing and anti-aging properties but...
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Spotlight on: Rose & Co Apothecary
Quintessentially English, the beautifully renovated Rose & Co Apothecary was born out of a true love of all things vintage by owners Patricia and Caroline Rose. The stunning Victorian building in Haworth (West Yorkshire) has been restored to its former quirky glory and now serves as a charming, modern day beauty emporium that allows customers to take a step back in time and sample a...
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Get The Look: Katniss "The Hunger Games" Hair
Hollywood has a new hero this year in the shape of The Hunger Game’s lead character Katniss; played by Jennifer Lawrence. As she battles her way through the film, Katniss sports a hair style that’s become an instant hit amongst fashionistas thanks to the interesting twist of it being a Dutch braid rather than a traditional French braid. Here’s how to get her look:
1) Start by...
March 2012
24 posts
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Trend Alert: Colour Play
Seen on the runways of designers such as Betsey Johnson (above), Cacharel, Louise Gray and Anna Sui; one of the biggest trends this year has got to be playful, statement colour. Whether it’s on the lips, eyes or a bit of both, accent hues can be any shade from vivid red to bubble gum pink to bright turquoise as long as they’re bold and uncompromising - imagine back to playing with...
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Pucker Up: Soap & Glory "A Great Kisser"
Who can resist a good lip balm? Not many, that’s for sure and it’s going to be pretty difficult not to be tempted by Soap & Glory’s latest offering A Great Kisser. There are 3 delicious choices complete with retro tin and signature S&G vintage labeling - from left to right there’s Juicy Peach; a soft coral, Sweet Coconut; with just a hint of shimmer and Chocolate...
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Limited Edition: Essence Marble Mania Trend...
Budget conscious beauty lovers are in for a treat as Essence will be releasing their newest collection Marble Mania in April which includes on-trends colours for eyes, cheeks, lips and nails. Full of swirls and multi dimensional shades, the blush and eye shadows are sure to be a hit as you can pick out individual colours or blend them together for a different look altogether. For nails there are...
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Dr Andrew Weil for Origins: Mega-Bright Serum
Traditional anti-aging products target key areas of concern such as signs of loss of elasticity, plumpness, and moisture levels in skin however the new Mega-Bright Serum from Origins is focused very clearly on an element often left as a bit of an after thought; pigmentation.
Discolouration appears in the surface layers of skin when there has been some form of trauma such as sun damage; in order...
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New Foundation: Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow
Still riding high on the success of last year’s “They’re Real” mascara; now one of the top 3 best selling luxury make-up products in the world, Benefit are set to launch their very first liquid foundation ”Hello Flawless - Oxygen Wow” on March 31st. Available in 9 shades (split into categories of light, medium and deep) the light weight, oil free formula can...
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Limited Edition: Clinique "Happy In Bloom"
For a number of years now Clinique have been bringing out a limited edition bottle for their Spring time fragrance aptly named Happy In Bloom; a seasonal companion for the best selling Clinique Happy, first launched back in 1997.
Similarly to the original, Happy In Bloom contains notes of mimosa which give it a zingy citrus feel, but the additional notes of freesia and lily of the valley as...
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