My Holy Grail Contour Kit!!

Contouring and highlighting is probably my favorite step when I'm putting my face on. I love going from having a flat, pale face, to having actual cheekbones!!! It's probably the most enjoyable part of my make-up routine for that very reason. So here are my steps and favorite contouring and highlighting bits and pieces. Here we go!!

I opt for a powder contour in my make-up routine, I just find it works better for me than cream products. I know plenty of gorgeous ladies who cream contour, but I just like powder products better. I generally move between two different contour palettes, but my routine and my tools are always the same.

My absolute favorite contour and highlight duo of all time, ever is the Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light. It seems to be never ending because I use this all the time and I've yet to hit pan on either the highlight or the contour shades. Cray cray!!

To contour, I first like to carve out my cheekbones with the contour color and my Blank Canvas Cosmetics F30 flat contour brush. This brushes bristles are really short, dense and narrowly packed. If you're familiar with the Nars Ita brush, it's very similar. I lightly press the brush into the contour shade and tap off the excess, and then it's time to carve out the general shape and angle of my contour. From here I can build up the pigment if I need to, though I tend to leave that for the second step.

The second step for me is to take my Real Techniques Contour Brush and blend, blend, blend!!! This is the point where I start to-ing and fro-ing from my F30 to my RT brush to build up the colour and blend for a nice diffused finish.

I'm going to blow your mind with my highlight tool... I take my middle finger, swipe it in the pan and then dab and blend onto the top of my cheekbones. Yep. Sometimes I will use a small fan brush, but mostly I'm lazy and my fingers do the job.

So there you have it, my contour routine!

Have you any recommedations for contour products? Highlighters? 

Drop me a line below! 

XO 

Amy

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My Flawless Base Routine

That base, yo!! 

One of the things in your make-up stash that needs to be great is foundation. I've gone through so many brands trying to find my Holy Grail for my flawless base. Today, I'm going to walk you through my flawless base routine - including the brushes I use to achieve it! I used this routine for the look I wore to a gig I attended recently, which you can read about on Monday. 

First up, I take my skin through its usual cleansing and moisturising routine, using my Nivea Cleansing Milk, Refreshing Toner and Energizing Day Cream. 

After my moisturiser sinks in, I prime my skin, and to do that I use Benefit Pore-Fessional. I take it over my nose, cheeks, forehead  and on my chin. Then I blend it out with my fingertips, and give it a second to sink in. 

For foundation, I dot some Estee Lauder Double Wear in Shell over my skin, and then buff it in with my Blank Canvas Cosmetics F20 Flat Top Foundation Brush. I buff it into the skin for a medium coverage finish, work it down onto my neck and out to my ears. Once it sets a bit, I repeat, dotting the foundation once more, and pressing it into the areas where I need more coverage. The beauty of Estee Lauder Double Wear is that it's buildable and doesn't cake. Once the coverage is how I want it, I buff out the edges for a seamless finish. 

Double Wear sets by itself, but I've found that it sets matte, so I take my Real Techniques Powder Brush and my Physicians Formula Happy Booster powder, and pat it over my entire face to set the foundation with a slightly glowy finish. 

And there you have it!! My flawless base routine with a radiant finish!! 

What do you use for your flawless base??

xo,

Amy

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Real Techniques Duo Fibre Brushes

They're nice to look at, that's about it...

I've a long standing love affair with this brand, owning almost all of the range... But I'm going to say something really controversial. 

I intensely dislike the Real Techniques Duo Fibre set. Yes, I know, I'm gonna split the crowd here, but it's panto season, so I'll let you all get your choruses of "Oh no you didn't; Ohhhh yes she did!!" out now. 

I really regret this purchase. I've used them as much as I could abide over the past few weeks and I just cannot deal. I understand the premise, they're duo-fibres apply and blend all in one, for light coverage, but to me there's a difference between light coverage, and invisible. I have tried them with all manner of products and... nothing. No love, no like, no barely abiding this trio. 

The bristles are not dense enough, they're too long and floppy, they just do nothing for me. A good make-up brush really turns me on, but these? Nada. 

Even when I was actively trialling them, I was hesitant to reach for them. That says it all really. I never hold back grabbing my RT Blush Brush, or my RT Eye Brushes. 

I'm sorry, beauty lovers, save your dosh here... 

These brushes retail for 29.99 in Boots.

What do you make of these brushes?

We can have a spirited debate in the comments! 

Amy 

xxx

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Dundalk Make-Up Kit

As you know, I spend a lot of time in Dundalk with my boyfriend, and when I go, I have to bring a butt load of make-up to get me through anything that might possibly happen over 3 or 4 days. I need to be ready for heading out with friends, possible date nights or dinners out and everything in between! 

I tend to bring items that can multi task, from neutral to night out and not take an age to apply. In order of my own application, these are...

The contents of my travel make-up kit

• Moisturiser: Garnier Pure Skin Shine Control Lotion
• Primer: W7 Prime Magic Anti-Redness 
• Foundation: Rimmel Stay Matte in 010 Light Porcelain
• Concealer: Seventeen Phwoarr Paint in Fair
• Contour: Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit
• Powder: Catrice Prime and Fine Translucent Loose Powder
• Blush: Sleek Rose Gold 
• Highlight: Seventeen Define and Conquer 
• Eye Base: Essence I Heart Stage
• Shadow Palette: W7 Lightly Toasted
• Liner: Rimmel Exxagerate Liquid Liner
• Mascara: W7 Absolute Lashes
• Brows: Maybelline Brow Drama- Medium Brown 
• Setting Spray: Urban Decay All Nighter 
• Lips: A pinky nude (MAC Creme Cup), a bold pink (Essence Dare to Wear) or a red (RimmelXKate 01)

The lipsticks are not photographed because they change depending on the person. If this were your starting point to pack up a kit to travel, I wouldn't expect you to bring the lipsticks I bring! 

Brushes!! 

The brushes I bring with me are much less extensive than my make-up. I bring the very basics, because if it comes down to it, I can live without contour, or 5 eyeshadow colours blended together. It's all the one to me. Once I feel like I look good, I'll be happy, whether or not that means I need 1001 brushes is totally arbitrary to the cause. What I always bring with me are:

• Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (O)
• Real Techniques Contour Brush (O)
• Real Techniques Powder Bush (O)
• Real Techniques Blush Brush (Pi)
• Real Techniques Base Shadow and Deluxe Crease Brush (Pu)
• Essence Pencil Brush (Bl)
• Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (O)

With these products and brushes, I can be up, done and ready to go in less than 30 minutes! Not bad for the girl who when she's at home with all her products and an ocean of choice can't be ready in under an hour some days! Nifty! 

What do you carry in your travel make-up bag? 

Let me know some of your choice items! 

Amy

xx

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That's What I'm Talkin' About... Real Techniques

Real Techniques brushes are my all-time favorite brushes, let's just clarify that here and now. The day I invested in the Eye Started Kit and Chris bought me the Core Collection, I knew it was true love. I have since bought the Blush and Powder brushes, bringing my total collection to 12 out of 19 (not counting the Limited Edition Duo Fiber brushes).

Before I had these brushes in my life, I was inept at any kind of nice make-up, and as a result, I stuck to the same old, tired looks, unable to take risks, because they always looked dire! I am, after all, the girl who wore BB Cream on a night out, and went barefaced all day every day.

All that has changed, because of these brushes. On the back of all the packaging, there is a quote from Samantha Chapman, "With simple tricks and high-tech tools, every woman can be an expert...", which I believe to be absolutely true. Ever since I started using Real Techniques, I have been getting compliments on my eye-makeup, my blush, everything! I've got such a big head because of Sam Chapman, it's crazy.

I have recommended these brushes all around myself, both online and in real life. I would never recommend something I didn't personally adore. They are so worth the money, and once you take care of them, they will make your makeup look ah-mazing! They have actually given me confidence in my abilities.

To wash my RT brushes, I pop some Johnson's Baby Shampoo in a cup (about the size of a €1 coin) and fill it halfway with water. Then I dunk my brushes (usually I start with my foundation brush so I can use it to combine the water and shampoo)and swirl them on my hand to get a lather up. I squeeze the excess lather out of them, and when all the pigment is gone (you'll know once the foam stops coming up tinted with foundation/shadow/whatever) I rinse the with barely warm water, and swirl them more, to be sure the foam has dissipated so they are squeaky clean.

Once every brush is clean, I shake them over the sink to drive out the majority of the excess water, and then squeeze them in a clean towel. I have invested in Brush Guard tape to re-shape the brushes as they dry, and I stand them upside-down against a wall, on a towel. These brushes stand up to washing very well, because of their fluffy Taklon bristles, which are synthetic and cruelty-free. I actually love washing them, because I know they are rid of bacteria and sebum, and they always smell lovely from the baby shampoo.

Overall, I think its fair to say I am obsessed with Real Techniques brushes. They make me feel confident in my own abilities, and apply my makeup beautifully. These brushes were the best investment I've ever made, when it comes to make-up.

I am an expert on my own make-up, thanks to these brushes, and Sam Chapman!

Real Techniques brushes are available in Boots nationwide, and from their website, realtechniques.com. You can check out Real Techniques on Youtube too, and Pixiwoo, the channel of Sam and Nic Chapman. 

Pick-Me-Up Treats

I was desperately sick yesterday and I decided that I was in need of a little pick me up! So I went to Dublin early, on my way to Drogheda and went looking for a suitable treat to fill the void! 

First stop, Boots. Buy One Get One Half Off on Real Techniques brushes? Sound! I picked up a Powder Brush and a Blush Brush! Super-soft taklon bristles that are cruelty free, coupled with the colour-coded handles? Ohhhhhyes!! 

Next up, I hit a Catrice stand...hard! I picked up a Calligraph Ultra-Slim Eyeliner Pen for €3.99, a Prime And Fine Highlighter (Yes, I am a highlighter obsessive now, lets move on!) for €4.99 and two Lip Colour Creams at €2.15 each! 

I nipped into Tesco for some bits for Chris's dad and I found a Sally Hansen Lip Inflation and nabbed that too for €8.99. Score!

I also nipped into A-Wear for some nice bling, because, "Hey look there's a sale!!", and nabbed a gorgeous black, leather like necklace with five gold skulls on it down from €10.00 to €3.00. 

I also picked up a lovely ring with tribal accents and some sparely gem detailing! The best bit about this ring is that the actual ring portion is stretchy. I am very impressed with the weighty quality for the  price! €3.00 - down from €10!!

All in all I feel much better today both physically, and in regards to my morale too! All systems are go for Eminem tomorrow!! 

So tell me what you think of my purchases! Would you be inclined towards any of them? The RT brushes were a no-brainer, don't you think? 

Amy

X

A Cheeky Haul!!

When you're week was as bad as mine, and someone asks you are you on for shopping, you jump at the chance to go and have retail therapy!

That's what happened to me, on Thursday evening when the lovely Kayliegh, of Kayliegh Land texted me and asked me was I on for shopping on Friday afternoon. I may as well be honest here, I had failed my practical driving test just hours before this, so I leapt at the chance to get out of my disappointed funk. Shopping always makes me feel better. Sure, who doesn't feel better after an afternoon of serious shopping and money spending?!

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