Top Five: Budget Eco Make-up Gift Ideas

Making your Christmas an eco-friendly one needn't push the budget and to prove the point I have put together a list of clean, green make-up gift ideas that come in under £20.00 (approximately $30.00USD).

New Additions: Summer 2014

This summer I have added very little new make-up items to my kit, however I have picked up a few pieces over the past couple of months and so thought I would put together my quarterly post to sum up the key purchases...

Eye Shadow Brush from NYR

 I'm feeling a little fraudulent titling this an eyeshadow brush post, because it's really not. The brush is named thus but I would never consider using it to apply eyeshadow - so apologies in advance for any confusion...

Top Five: Lip Brushes

It's been a while since I've written a Top Five brush post, so I will remedy that this instant with a look at my favourite five lip brushes...

Love: RMS Beauty Skin2Skin Brushes

I currently have my eye on these two brushes from the doyenne of green beauty Rose-Marie Swift. I had a sneak preview (I've been waiting for their official launch to share the love) of the duo during a recent masterclass and product launch at Content in London's Marylebone - they look and feel fantastic and I fell in love!

Love: Bdellium Tools SFX Series

These popped up on my radar last summer having spotted them getting a mention in the August/September 2014 issue of Make-up Artist Magazine - I love the look of them and can't quite believe it's taken me this long to include the range on my blog!

Louise Young Cosmetics Deluxe Small Powder Brush

My love for Louise Young Cosmetics brushes is well known and I can do nothing but eulogise about them. This said I do try to restrain myself from writing about each and every one, however this new addition to the collection was defiantely worth a mention.

New Additions: Winter 2014

I have accumulated quite a lot of products over the last couple of months; I haven't been actively looking to but it has just happened. Here's what's new...

Earthnicity Mineral Kabuki Brush

Never one to go too long without mentioning a make-up brush I felt it was time to share my thoughts on what is possibly one of cutest make-up brushes on the planet... 

Top Five: Refillable Palettes

I am sure you know by now that I love good packaging and de-potting and decanting products can near bring tears to my eyes (less so with the cheaper products). Elysambre's beautifully engraved copper palettes or Ilia Beauty's sleek and streamlined tubes; Kjaer Weis compacts are a work of art in themselves and the frosted glass pots of RMS Beauty are simple and timeless. All are exquisite and stylish but all are weighty; especially when you have a number of them in your kit!

Real Techniques Shading Brush

I am sure by now that you are not unaware of my make-up brush obsession; it is pretty mighty. In all honesty it doesn't take much for me to share my thoughts on a brush, although I try to restrain myself...

Mini Fan Brushes: Bdellium Tools v Crown Brushes

On the whole I am not a fan of mascara wands. I don't truly dislike them (although I do have a particular hatred for the new style rubber numbers that are spiky and eye pokey), but I prefer not to use them. Instead of the traditional style wand I prefer to use a mini fan brush which separates, de-clumps and defines as you go; which is perfect unless you want a gloopy lash look (at the risk of sounding too grumpy - I don't like those either!)...

Top Five: Eyeliner Brushes

Last year I began a series on my Top five brushes for this, that and the other. For one reason or another I took a break from the brush posts but I have decided to get the ball rolling again and pick up where I left off - with the eyes. This month its all about lining...

UMA Expo 2014

The United Make-up Artist's Expo (UMAE) is a Pro-only make-up trade show held at the beautiful Business Design Centre in London's Islington. Now in it's second year, UMAE had a lot to live up to following the success of last years show and by all accounts it did pretty well...

Love: Minnie Messie Mat

One of the first things you are taught when studying make-up is how to set up correctly and hygienically and as a matter of course, I still to this day carry a towel to spread out on my work station when I set up. In recent months I have become increasingly tired of carrying towels around for this purpose; surely there must be a better way to keep a work space clean?

So I invested in a mat. Yes, this months love is my new mat (you will see why).

Top Five: Gifts For Guys

I adore Christmas. I am also a big believer that it shouldn't start until the 1st December - I don't want want to hear endless renditions of Wizard's I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday in November! So, being as we have now passed my Christmas threshold I thought I would dedicate this months Top Five posts to gift ideas.

Top Five: Blusher Brushes

I dont know about you but I always find Blusher brushes a very handy sized brush to work with. A little more precise than the larger powder, you can pinpoint specific application and apply a whole range of products from blush to powder and Bronzer.

Love: Fresh & Flawless by ECOTOOLS

A collection that has caught my eye in recent weeks is the new Fresh & Flawless Complexion Set from the high street friendly, masters of the bamboo brush - ECOTOOLS.

Top 5: Brow And Lash Brushes

A beautiful eye make-up can be really let down by a messy brow or a misplaced lash, however you don't need many tools to keep unruly eyebrows and stray lashes in check, so here are some of my favourites...

My Holiday Bag

I am off on holiday! I'm vey excited as its been a couple of years since I've been out of the country - the longest non-holidaying time in a while. This year is a little different as it is the first year of travelling with a young child and as I will be flying without a second pair of hands to help baby wrangle, push the pushchair and carry luggage, packing very light is a must!

I thought I'd share with you some images of the skin and make-up essentials I will be taking on my trip...