My Hallowe'en make up from last night.

Not the best of photos - it was taken on Mr Wildthyme's phone.

Our Black Cat really added to the look.

To get this look, I first prepped the skin with REN Purity Cleansing Balm, Boots Botanics Moisturiser and Benefit's Porefessional. I blocked out my eyebrows with a glue stick (Pritt Stick).

I then used Illamasqua Cream Foundation in shade 100 (white) all over with fingers and Real Techniques buffing brush. For the eyes, I used Clinique Quick Liner in Violet all over the lids(right up to and on my real brow) and waterline as a base for Illamasqua shadow in Vintage which is only available in their Neutral palette. This went over the the brow and extended right to the hairline over the temples. I added Illamasqua Obsidian (black) for contour. The brows were drawn on with a Screenface angle brush and Illamasqua eyebrow cake in Motto. I used Clinique High Impact Extreme mascara for really spikey, tarantuala leg lashes.

I used a blending brush to dust the eyebrow cake on my nose and forehead and blended it in with the buffing brush that I used to apply the foundation. 

For my cheeks, I used a Daniel Sandler eyeliner pencil in Navy as a contour. To do this, you scribble the pencil into the palm of your hand then swirl an eye blending brush into the pencil. Suck in your cheeks to see your contour line and trace under and along the cheekbone. Blend for a deathly hollow cheeked look.

I then used more of the eyebrow powder on a blusher brush to add a little more texture to the look.

For the lips, I used the Clinique eyeliner all over then brushed some Illamasqua sealing gel over it. I then swept some more of the Vintage eyeshadow over that.

To set the lot, I used No7 translucent loose powder all over. 

Finally, to remove it all after going outside like that, I slathered my face with Superdrug hot cloth cleanser and really worked it in to loosen all of the make up. I rubbed it all off with a hot flannel then repeated with REN Purity cleansing balm for a second cleanse. 

A post about hot cloth cleansing is coming up very soon. 

Did you make up for Hallowe'en last night? 

Some of my work.

My daughter left school last year (I know, I had her very young) and the pic above is what I did for her prom.

I used Clinique Super Balanced Foundation in shade Alabaster and Clinique All About Eyes Concealer on the dark circles and the odd spot. Her spots aren't too bad so didn't need anything heavier than that.

For the eyes, I used MAC gel liner in Blacktrack to line the eyes and in the upper and lower waterline. I then used a MAC Paintpot in Blackground up to the socketline and used an Inglot shadow in shade 447 (silver grey) to blend and smoke the paintpot colour out a little. I didn't need to curl the lashes and applied Rimmel Waterproof Mascara to the top and bottom lashes.

On the cheeks I used a Daniel Sandler Waterblush in Cherub on the apples and Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl on the cheek bone. I didn't need to use very much of the highlighter because she's got such beautiful skin anyway.

Finaly, on the lips, I used MAC Lip Pencil in Beet and blended Illamasqua Lipstick in Encounter into the pencil.

I gave her a light powdering of No7 translucent loose powder on the T-zone and she was good to go.

I did brush the brows through but between leaving the house and the pic taken, they got messed up.

When she came back at 2am, the make-up was still in place. She then left to go to another party and when she returned at 9am, the make-up still hadn't come off. The lipstick had faded but still apparent.

It did her good to get out, let her hair down and release all the tension and stress that had built up during the exam period. I did worry about her being out all night but she did call a few times to let me know what she was up to.

Two things that I need.

Many apologies for not blogging of late. I haven't had much inspiration lately and that makes me a bad blogger. I resolve to do much better in the future.

Anyway, I've found two things I need desperately - an affordable train case for my kit and some Bioderma Crealine - the best make up remover ever. Apparently, Kate Moss won't allow you near her face with anything but Crealine.

It's widely available in French pharmacies but not so easy to get a hold of here in the UK unless you're off to France for a holiday. However, Guru Make up Emporium sell it online and in-store. It seems to be almost constantly out of stock, though.

The train case I need is by Daniel Sandler and is big enough to get all my kit in. It's cheaper and larger than the Makeup Forever one and looks to be better quality too. £80 as opposed to £128.50? Yes please. I've linked to the page, but no picture because I don't own it yet. When I do get it, pics will be posted.

One last thing, Clinique are having a lot of GWPs for the next couple of weeks. I find they're a good way to build up your kit for eye shadow, lipstick and mascaras. Fenwick GWP finishes on Saturday, Debenhams starts tomorrow with a lip pallette and lipstick included. John Lewis starts on 23rd February.

An Evening with Daniel Sandler.

On Thursday, I was invited to a Beauty evening hosted by Look Fantastic, Daniel Sandler and Four, a salon in Conduit Street, off Regent Street. The evening kicked off with copious amounts of champagne (ooh la-la!) and getting to know various other bloggers and make-up artists who were in attendance.

We were then led upstairs where Mr Sandler was waiting with a model. He jumped straight in with an easy smokey eye using a grey eye liner which was then blended up and out with an angle brush. To keep the look modern, he used only a little at first to build the winged effect rather than go in with a heavy layer of the pencil which would give an "80's rounded look". He then built up the colour, blending in the same way to achieve a dramatic effect which would not look out of

place during the day. He chose grey over black because it was simple, effective and looks great for a day time look on women of all ages and especially so on mature women.

To make the lashes look fuller, he took the eye liner to the upper waterline and shade in under the lashes there. Now, this is a bit scary to do for the first time and you may blink an awful lot when applying but it's not as scary as it sounds. Just look down and draw the line in. He also added a blue liner, and a black liner for a more evening look and to add drama.

Smokey eyes can be achieved with any colour; I've done it with turquoise and navy shadows, and Illamasqua has a video that features Alex Box demonstrating how to get the look using pink shades.

So, to get Daniel's look - start off with a grey eye pencil, draw a line as close to the lashes as possible and blend upwards and out to get a slight wing and the beginnings of a haze above the socket line. Keep lightly applying the pencil and blending in the same manner until you get the intensity that you desire. If you wish, add black or blue, or both, or indeed any shade you prefer.

Apply the same grey pencil to the lower waterline and under the lashes. Smudge the line in and apply lots of mascara to the upper and lower lashes. Use a nude lipstick to keep the focus on your eyes.

Mr Sandler then moved on to choosing the perfect red lipstick for your skintone. For years, the only colour of lipstick you could get was red, from the Egyptians using crushed seaweed and bromine, to Elizabeth I using beeswax and beetroot to Flapper girls in the 20's using carmine or cochineal and to our "grandmothers wearing nothing but red lipstick during the war". In wartime, lipstick was rationed at first but the Government removed it from the Ration because it helped with morale and colours were even created to match with red flashes in women's Forces uniforms.

Daniel said that every woman can wear red lipstick so long as the shade is matched with the skintone and that the outfit you are wearing is not red. Too much red is overkill so if you plan to wear red, then go for a neutral lip. If you have a very dark to latino skin, a deep orangey red will enhance your skin. If you are very pale, a blue - pink red will work wonders. People with red/ginger hair can wear red so long as a blue toned red is used.

To wear a red lip, first pick your shade. Make sure the skin is well prepped by concealing all red spots and patches. If you have a ruddy tone, then use a colour correcting foundation such as Clinique Redness Solutions. Red lips will make every red patch on your face more prominent. Apply a tiny amount of concealer to the lips to help grip the colour and enhance the upper lip.

For a simple everyday lip, if you are a bit scared to try red, use your middle finger to dab and blend the colour into the lips to create a stained look.

If you are more adventurous, use a lip brush to apply the colour, making sure you get right into the corners of the lips. Blot, and apply more lipstick either using the brush, or for a more dramatic look, from the bullet.

If you find that the lipstick bleeds into the fine lines, use a lip pencil to go around the edges after you've applied the colour, or use Daniel Sandler's Magic Wand, a transparent liner that will fill in the lines and seal the edges.

After Mr Sandler had finished his lesson, he then took questions from people. I chatted to him for a few minutes, mostly picking up tips on combatting nerves when working on clients faces. I feel his most important tip was to look confident and not to drink coffee before a job in case I get the shakes.

Mr Sandler applying his magic to a lady in the Q&A section.

All in all, it was a valuable evening for me and everyone who attended. Thank you to Four for hosting the evening; Look Fantastic, Daniel Sandler and Shirley for inviting me.

Links.

Daniel Sandler

Look Fantastic