Professional Beauty 2013

Inbetween the long hours of work and moving into my new place I went to the beauty junkiwe heaven that is Professional Beauty at ExCel Centre. Previous years it was closed off to non-trade professionals, but tthis was the first time that they let 'Beauty Lovers' into the show. This provided a little more deversity to the crowd rather than previous years where trade people like myself have been going.

As we were heading towards the Spring season a lot of ranges where doing their launch shows here, this included Essie's Spring 2013 collection that I had previously mentioned in My Essie Collection post. I went, I saw and left with nothing. The same was also for OPI's Euro Central Collection, looking at the swatches I think I would of worn them once or maybe twice and decided against it.

I did however go away with OPI's Nail Envy set in Orginal and Matt (that a 2 for 1 pack) as well as Everymonth is Oktoberfest that I have been drbbling over for months after changing my mind from Germani-cure.

In the dark depths of the other stalls I did come across early on a stall that was selling old collections of OPI for £4 each (where at trade price it is £6). I elbowed my way and hunted through the boxes and ended up with 5 polishes in my hands in minutes.

 

From left to right is the line up in it's entirity - Every Month Is Oktoberfest, Number One Nemisis, My Very First Knockwurst, Just Spotted The Lizard, There She Rose, Casino Royale.

 



I do come away with one grumble, as a now newly qualified MUA I wanted to speak to a few brands about their products. It was packed so I couldn't get close, I quened for 30 mins to get face mapped with Dermalogica which wasn't bad as I got chatting to the therapists about working with the brand. They also was demostrating their amazing new primer that illuminates, mattifies but also had anti aging skincare propeties bur more on that another time.

By the time I got my face mapped I was sold I wanted in, and as introduced to the sales people. They ask you about your business, however the moment I mentioned 'mobile' they were, "We don't do mobile". They gave me a pack anyway, a handshake and a "We'll be in touch". I am sorely disappointed, but I understand that they are a therapist based range and they know that a mobile will only invest a smaller amount than a salon.

I am buying that primer the moment it is out (£37.50 it's going to be a dent), ironically Beauty Swot wrote a review for it the moment I got home.

Masterclass - Face Powder

Face powder is used when using a cream or liquid foundation to set the foundation to extend the life of wearing. It can also absorb any excess grease which will then reduce shine and provide a smoother, matt finish. With some powders they can also provide blemish cover and protect the skin.

There are two types of powder, loose and pressed.

Loose Powder

Powders that have more coverage to them have a higher proportion of kaolin, chalk and an ingredient such as titanium dioxide. This often have pigments to compliment a foundation shad and provide good coverage. Finer powders are based more on talc or mica. These are more translucent, allowing any colour underneath to come through.

Chalk, starch and powdered silk are often added to powders to give the skin a smoother finish. Luminous finish can contain finely ground metallic particles that create a slight pearlised finish.

Pressed Powder

Is usually produced in a block, which is then fitted into a compact. A binding ingredient is added, this can be a gum or wax that holds the particles together. Pressed powder is more designed to be used a touch up for when any shine comes through on the skin. They are not used as much by make up artists because it is not fine enough to produce an even finish on foundation and is not as hygienic to use as loose powder.

I find the easiest way to apply is to use a big fluffy brush swept over the powder, tap the excess and buff around the skin, moving inwards towards the nose. For pressed compacts on the go, roll the powder onto the area and wash/replace the puff often to avoid any bacteria from breeding.

Personally there is nothing as glamorous like powdering your nose using a vintage powder compact.

Masterclass - Concealers/Colour Correctors

This is a carry on from last weeks vlog effort on How to apply foundation, towards the end I put on a bit of concealer because a spot decided to come along on that morning and ruin my smooth skinned week.

Concealers can come in creams and sticks, and are designed to cover any minor skin blemishes that the foundation hasn't been able to cover but not mask the skin. They are more pigmented than foundation, so if you tried to put them all over ace it can look thick as well as drying for the skin.

The first concealer was launched by Max Factor in 1938 simply called Erase. One of the highest selling is the one you see in the picture above, YSL's Touch Eclat. This has a brush on light reflected concealer that can be used to highlight as well as conceal.  Next to it is Estee Lauder's Disappear, a lot more creamer for more stubborn blemishes but blends in smoothly.

For more deeper marks like bruises, birthmarks, thread veins, and tattoos, a camouflage concealer is needed. They are set with a special fixing powders that is waterproof and more likely to not rub off. When I used these on people I build into thin layers to make sure it doesn't over power the rest of the area without looking like you're covering something up.

Abother catagoary to concealers is colour correctors, these are designed to cut through colours of the skin to decrease unwated colour. They can come in a base applied before foundation or a concealer form to put on afterwards. The general rule is this:

• Green kills any red spots like the nose or cheeks where were catch the most sunlight so it colours quiker.
• Pink/lilac brightens any yellow or sallow skin.

To me there is no set in stone rule about when to apply a concealer, just keep in the mind the manufractures instructions. I use my concealer after my foundation as I use it more a blemish cover or highlighter.

NOTD MUA Comestics Nail Varnish Shade 13

Time for an unplanned NOTD post!

I painted these in Shade 13 last night to match the cardigan that I was wearing to work today, it is an exact match which I didn't realise when I brought it. This was brought when MUA did 25% off their products a while back (as well as refreshing my BB Cream that I love! Read the rave here, eye shadow palettes Going For Gold and Undressed, blusher in shade 4 AND primer. Phew). I was drawn to the green and well it is £1 so if it wasn't right then I hadn't spent a lot.

The pot is so small it boarding on cute, this does affect the brush as it smaller than an average brush. I still found it easy to use and the lacquer itself goes on evenly. It has so far survived at day at work, including having sellotape stuck to it and not flaking. I even had a mail customer say that my nail colour was funky and that he really liked it.

I am already thinking about what colours I can get next. I really want to call this Green With Envy, what do you think?

Masterclass - Make Up Primers

We gone over how to get your skin ready for cosmetics as well as pampering your body now it is time to look at what women (and me) get obsessed over - Make Up. Like the skin Masterclasses we Will go from the foundations upwards, so first we start by priming the skin ready.

So why a primer? It is a lotion or gel that applied to the skin to enhance the appearance or wear of what it is applied over the top. They can be created fro different target area like face, eyes, lips and mascara, as well as different needs or finishes like luminance, reducing redness, and evening skin tone.

A foundation primer for the face area is they to ensure the product is put on smoothly and lasts longer. Key ingredients that can be found can be vitamins A,C and E, with antioxidant green tea extract. Depending on the needs of the skin it can also contain Salicylic acid that absorbs oil or add radiance by using a slight shimmer. More primers that are coming to the market are now also mineral based which can be more gentler to the sensitive skin market.

Eye shadow primer work the same as above but are more formulated to work around the delicate eye area. They provide a even and blank canvas for products to be put on, can also decrease 'creasing' of the product that can happen during the day because of moisture. Not only does it extend the life of eye shadows, but also eye liners and can brighten colours that are used.

Mascara primers are colourless or white, brushed on bare lashes before putting the chosen mascara on top. They are designed to volume or lengthen the lases, and in some cases can also condition. It can also help the mascara from flaking and smudging.

Lip primers are there to stop lipstick from moving from the lips and bleeding out to the lighter outer areas.

Next week - Start looking at foundation