Having my Make-up Done...Trying Out Make-up by HD Brows

I've decided something.

I have little to no understanding of Kim Kardashian right now.

1. The fact that she thought platinum blonde hair was a good idea.

2. The fact that she insists on encasing her feet in shoes which resemble cages and make her look about a foot tall.

3. The fact that her derrière is larger than last weeks supermoon, and would definitely block out more sunlight than an eclipse.

and mostly...

4. The fact that recently, my all too frequent Mail Online showbiz section stalking sessions show at least 237265429 articles per day of Kim, seemingly trying to out-misery-gut her other half.

I mean, really?

What is this constant pouty, glum looking facial expression which Kim seems to have adopted more and more of late?

Why is it necessary?

Is she afraid that removing such a pained and sullen look may crease her latest dose of collagen? Or is it the sheer dosage of collagen itself making all facial movement a myth?

One thing's for sure - Kim truly has naff all to be miserable about, 

I mean, if my bum could single-handedly-cheekedly (?) *cough* 'break the internet' and draw me enough income to buy China, (and therefore a country big enough to reside my second bum cheek) I'd look pretty bleeding happy.

Hell, I'd be more than happy to simply have an extra hour in bed a day, owed to not having to do my face in the morning.

It really is a pain.

Sadly however, we're not all as lucky as Kim.

We're not all able to use income generated by the size of our bootaaay's, to hire live in Make-up Artist's and look permanently polished, prepped and preened without the usual faffing, flapping and general fussing each time our left eyebrow totes decides not to match its buddy on't right.

#girlproblems

This all changed one Saturday recently however...when I got the chance to go all Kardashian, and have my make-up done by a pro.

Now for me, ladies, (and cheeky blog reading gents) this is a big thing; I haven't had my make-up done since I was twelve, and my friend decided to give me a make-over in the style of a certain citrus fruit in her bedroom, complete with violet eyeshadow, and a lot of sticky glitter stuff.

:|

Claire's Accessories was where it's at peeps.

Anyhow, off I popped to see my Fairy-Lash-Mother, and all round beauty genius, Rachel Brooker.

You may remember me raving about her here, and here, when she's single handedly transformed my sadly lacking brows and lashes into, well...ones I didn't know I was capable of

Love me some HD Brows.

<3

Since my last visit, Rachel has furthered her already maaad skillz, to become a HD Brows Elite Trainer and Master Stylist, (can she get an 'oooh'?) so most products and brushes used on me were from the new Make-up by HD Brows range...and they're rather nice I'll have you know!

First job on the list was a fresh HD-ing of my seriously out-grown brows...

(Ta-daa!!)

(Love a good before and after shot - who knew I was capable of growing those badboys? <3)

but then it was on to the make-up...

The look of the day was a perfect base, complete with lots of contouring, a soft smoky eye, lashings of liquid liner, and a natural lip.

Now for this part I'm going to credit Rachel hugely - because she's sent me so many juicy deets about each product, that right now I'm at risk of sounding like I know my shizzle...

So you know guys, right here I'm pretty much just the messenger.

***

Rachel began by buffing Fluid Foundation in shade 2 'Sand' in to my skin, using the Kabuki Brush for a flawless finish. The foundation is a semi-matt, and coverage is adjustable depending on the result you're aiming for; a small amount either alone, or mixed with moisturiser can be buffed into the skin with either a kabuki or stipple brush for a lighter coverage, or for full coverage a larger amount, (Rachel suggests two pumps, or as much as is required for the desired effect) can be used. For a more luminous finish it can also be mixed with an illuminating primer (such as 'L'Oreal Lumi Magique'). The foundation not only feels beautiful on the skin, (in that non-existent, light 'I'm totally not wearing anything' way) but it is also extremely long lasting - something which I can vouch for fully, my face looked exactly the same hours later as it did immediately after application. Reeesult. 

To conceal, Rachel used the Conceal and Correct Palette in shade 001 'Light-Medium' under my eyes. Both the foundation and concealer were set with the Translucent Finishing Powder, applied using the Powder Brush, with the Eye Blending Brush being used under my eyes.

To contour, (yusssss contouring ftw!!) Rachel applied shade 'Light Blonde', from the 'Bombshell' 'Eye & Brow Palette'. Now I know what you're thinking...an eye/brow product to contour?!

But it totally works!

To contour, it's great because it's a cool toned light brown, (queue me realising my bronzer ain't so great to contour with...) so really makes it look as though your bone structure really is just THAT good ;) 

Yes I can dream.

It was applied with the Contour Brush in the hollows of my cheeks, around my jawline, and my forehead, and with the Eye Blending Brush down the sides of my nose. This made a huge difference for me, as the bridge of my nose is quite wide, (forward facing photo's hate me) and this simple trick slimmed it down beyond recognition.

 #whoneedsanosejob?

Blusher, (another first for me!) was used in the shade 'Cosmo', and was applied using the Blusher Brush, and highlight in the lovely champagne toned 'Illuminator' was used on my cheek bones and down the bridge of my nose. I'm a HUGE lover of any kind of highlight, and this was no exception, I look at the photos below and seeing the glow on my cheekbones makes me happier than a kid at Christmas.

Reet, on to the eyes :D

First of all, Eye Primer in shade 'Sand' was applied using the Concealer Brush, to even out the skin tone and prevent any eyeshadow from creasing, as well as allowing the colours to 'pop' and look more vibrant. 

Eyeshadow in the shade 'Honey', from the 'Foxy' Eyeshadow Palette was blended into the crease using the Eye Blending Brush, and 'Truffle', also from this palette was used and blended into 'Honey', and into the outer V of my eye, using the Angled Eye Shadow Brush. 'Truffle' was also used on the outer half of my lower lash line (applied with the Smudger Brush).

'Eye Define' pencil liner in 'Intense Black' was blended under the eye to intensify the look, and black  'Duo Gel Liner'  was applied along my upper lash line, and winged out using the Fine Angled Brow Brush immaculately - Rachel applied this with such precision and expertise that I seriously applaud her skill here; the liner was identical on each side, and her patience meant it came out perfectly.

The 'Illuminator' previously used on my cheekbones and nose was used across the inner two-thirds of my lid and into my tear-duct to highlight. 

Black 'Volumising Mascara' was applied to both my top and bottom lashes - in much smaller amounts than I'd normally use myself, (who knew spider lashes weren't a thing?) and 'Foxy' faux lashes were applied to finish the eyes, (queue my mama actually believing they were my real lashes, and I'd somehow grown them in the couple of hours I was gone ha! Needless to say, she liked them a lot...) once again it was so strange to see my eyes this way, having always been completely useless with false lashes, but I loved them! The 'Foxy' lashes are long in length, but weren't so full on to detract from the rest of the face, and they complimented the rest of the make-up perfectly, they're probably the perfect lashes to use if you're wanting a natural evening look with just a subtle hint of 'boom, yeahh my lashes kick ass'.

Lipgloss in the natural shade 'Vintage' was used to complete the look, and finish my make-up perfectly. I really liked that Rachel used this shade, as normally for myself I'd go all out colour wise, or use nothing - so it was such a great alternative, and has showed me the kind of natural colour which would suit me.

Flash off                                                                      Flash on

I love this look in general, but have never truly known how to do it and get it right, so to see it applied so immaculately on my face was amazing for me, Rachel is truly a pro.

I've always been more than a little fearful of foundation, (possibly from spending my day as an orange that's rolled in mud, aged twelve) so have stayed away from it altogether. Seeing it on my skin so flawlessly, erased any bad memories and connotations I had - in truth my skin has probably never looked better!

I wouldn't be so fearful of it again, and to know that there's a product out there in Make-up by HD Brows' 'Sand',  which can look as good, natural, and glowing as it did, is reassuring. My skin still looked and, more importantly FELT like my skin - just better, (seriously, my mum couldn't stop staring) and in my opinion that's all you could ever want from a foundation.

Now all I'd need is Rachel's expert application skills and I may be half way there haha...

The contouring was something of a revelation; I've ALWAYS contoured my face, and quite frankly I can't get enough, however I've always contoured with bronzer, and using the pale brown shades Rachel did was just so much more natural, and yet so effective, who knows? I may just give it a go...

Overall, I adored this make-up look; I felt so ultra-glamorous and girly, it really was a shame that it all had to come off at the end of the night (why god-dammit?!). I especially loved the contouring and the eyes, (and OBVSSS the 'Illuminator', magpie I am after all) I own the HD Brows 'Foxy' Eye & Brow Palette already, and have often used it to create matte eyeshadow looks, so it's no surprise to me how much I loved the colours in the 'Foxy' Eyeshadow Palette, and the teeny iridescent particles these shades contain - it's been a long while since I last attempted liquid liner, but I used to love it, and have been a little inspired to dig it back out and try it again...although no doubt the chance of me re-creating those flicks with the precision that Rachel did, is more than a bit slim, and I may need a good free afternoon in the mirror before I can show the world.

So sadly, my time in Kim Kardashian's shoes, (not literally her shoes, I pretty much hate every pair she wears) came to an end...

And I can tell you now that I certainly did not adopt her long faced expression during my time in the MUA's chair, (mehh, I've got no collagen to crease in these cheeks) and in all honesty I was chuffed to bits with how my make-up looked.
It was something very different and a fresh look for me, while still encompassing all the things I love most in my own make-up looks, a smokey eye, highlight, and contouring.

Rachel is ultra professional and a true talent; there's a reason why I call her my Fairy-Lash-Mother, she's experienced, creative and extremely passionate about what she does, (not to mention genuinely lovely) and it shows.
She recently started her own business, and has a beauty room within her Huddersfield home, in the form of  'Beauty, Brows and Make-up Artistry by Rachel', and having visited it, it really is something special, and testament to the hard work she's put in to her career, constantly updating her skills and qualifications.


*Little disclaimer here: I'm in no way affiliated with Rachel or HD Brows, and am not being paid/sponsored to post this, Rachel is merely a brilliant beauty therapist and make-up artist, and simply deserves a little recognition for it :)

I can't thank Rachel enough for doing my brows and make-up for me, I was well and truly pampered during my visit, and I can't wait to go back, (which I am next week in fact for some LVL lash goodness, woop!) I'll no doubt be causing myself endless wrinkles with the silly grin that is sure to be plastered across my face once she's done, in totally non-Kim Kardashian-esque fashion.

Ah well...never understood her anyway.
Wouldn't mind her live-in MUA though...


You can find Rachel via:
Facebook
Her website
Twitter
Email: rachel-brooker@hotmail.co.uk
or contact on the phone directly on: 07990525258.


Also, cos we're lucky little so-and-so's, Rachel has kindly shared her stylist code, which allows you to receive a free brush when you spend over £35 on myhdbrows.com.
Her code is E950 and you can pop it in this little box right here.

Told you she was good ;)

Life in High Definition: HD Brows Review

That's right folks, the now famous left beast, (eyebrow) has been...TAMED.

Along with its sidekick, and slightly smaller companion.

The right eyebrow.

It's been years since I've had pretty much any eyebrows to speak of.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I never plucked them into absolute oblivion, just erm...perhaps into the path of a small tornado on a precise, but unnecessary path of excessive destruction, rather than a hurricane, devastating everything in a several hundred mile radius.

I was fed up. 

I kept seeing pictures of very famous, and very beautiful people, with their amazing, thick, and defined eyebrows, and wondering how ever did they do that?

I mean, they didn't even look 'drawn on', they looked natural...

I wanted in on the secret.

Surely they weren't born with it? 

('Maybe it's Maybell' - erm no, it's not. Soz Maybelline)

One thing kept cropping up on the internet, TV, YouTube - you name it, everyone was on about HD Brows.

I liked them, and I wanted them...

And now, ladies and gents...I have got them!!

After a good six weeks of tweezer abandonment, (no kidding, it's been tough!) I finally had enough hair to justify having some of it whipped right back off. 

My eyebrows had descended into, well...I would say chaos, but I kind of can't?

A mini squabble might be more appropriate.

Patchy, and a little misshapen.

But it was enough.

Under my make-up, (which let me tell you becomes very difficult to do when your eyebrow shape vanishes!) laid something that looked a little like this...

I know right? It's bad.

:|

That's the famous left one right there!!

Ready to be HD'd.

It complied, and hadn't yet walked off my face.

Yes people - you're all safe now :D

Off I popped to see my Fairy Lash Mother, and Huddersfield beauty therapist and MUA extraordinaire Rachel Brooker, (who was responsible for giving me these bad boys - my LVL Lashes, a few months ago), ready and raring to go...

HD Brows takes around an hour, and there is a lot involved! 

You name it - it is done.

Threading, tweezing, tinting, and then some.

I'm going to take you through the process as best I can, with a few pictures to boot (can I get an 'ooooh'?).

:)

I'm going to put my 'professional' blogger head on now for this next bit, and explain it properly...

1. First of all, was an in depth consultation. Rachel took me through what she was going to do, (using all the exciting looking things in the picture above) and discussed with me what I wanted in regards to colour, shape, and thickness. I like my brows to be fairly defined and angular, (exactly the opposite of their natural state) . Rachel told me she would mix the dyes to match my hair colour, and told me which powders she would be using to fill in any gaps I still had at the end. Hair growth is also assessed, and it is explained that some areas may need to be enhanced with make up if the hair won't grow or hasn't yet grown in a certain area.

2. The brows and surrounding hairs are tinted to the correct colour - the surrounding hairs are tinted along with the main brows in order to pick up any extra hairs which may help build the shape you later want. This is quite a strong dye, and so will last longer than a normal brow tint.

3. This is the technical bit, (and it's pretty cool) the brows are measured and marked to find the correct starting, ending, and highest point, and whether the brows are the same height. 

4.  A thin line of wax is marked all the way around the brows, to remove any unwanted hairs, and begin to create the desired shape. I can not stress how pain free this bit was - I've never had anything waxed and didn't know what to expect. By the time I'd braced myself for the pain, it was done! Sure my eyes watered a little bit, but that's nothing unusual for me, to be honest.

5. The area's above and below the brows are threaded in order to blend the waxed area into the rest of the face. I helped out a little with this bit, just by pulling the skin on my forehead, and then my eyelid tighter, making the threading easier. My hands were sanitised for this too - every little thing is catered for. :)

6. Any remaining unwanted hairs were tweezed, and any extra long hairs were trimmed to make the perfect shape.

7. Mineral powder is applied around the brows to soothe the area, and take away any redness left from the waxing.

8.  A brow pencil is used to etch a fine line around the edge of the brows, to add definition and give a clean finish. Powder is used to fill in any sparse areas or gaps, evening out the colour. This is done in tiny strokes which emulate hair, again making your brows look extra natural.

Onto the exciting part; the finished result!!

I feel as though this - the big reveal - should be done with dramatic music, in an X Factor judges entrance style...but I'll resist.

It is however, that good!

*Photo's courtesy of Rachel Brooker

I am over the moon with the finished result! I just can't believe how natural they look! As much as I've always been 'okay' at doing my eyebrows myself, these are on another level.

They are more true to my own natural brow shape than anything I've 'created' myself previously, while still being EXACTLY what I had envisioned!! 

If anything, the best part is how they look without make up:

That's the left eyebrow, before it's de-beastification, and after. The 'after' picture was taken at home, (hence the different/dodgy lighting) once I'd removed the pencil and powder enhancing it, and honestly, it's like someone else's eyebrow! In fact it pretty much looks exactly the same as it does with the extra help.

Ladies and gentleman - I HAVE GOT REAL, NATURAL LOOKING EYEBROWS!

I'm chuffed to bits!!

I've had a go at doing them myself since and found it mega easy, given that I'm no professional, I have to say that doing my brows has just become a whole lot easier, and now takes a million times less product - oh yes indeedy, I'm saying goodbye to drawn on looking eyebrows right now this second.

I now have a decent base to use my gorgeous HD Brow palette on - I honestly felt my little beasties weren't worthy of its wonders before...however god did I rely on it to keep them under control!?!

I can't speak about the pricing of this in other salons, but if you're in Huddersfield, (or even if you're not and fancy a road trip huh?) I highly recommend my Fairy Lash Mother, Rachel Brooker, who I can't thank enough for my beautiful and totally un-beastified brows!!

I will be back.

Oh, and the treatment costs £25...say no more <3

Rachel is based in the Marsh area of Huddersfield at her very own in-house Beauty Room, and is a Master Stylist and Elite trainer for HD Brows. Rachel also does various treatments from shellac, to waxing, LVL Lashes, and make-up for various occasions.

To book an appointment, you can contact Rachel directly on 07990525258.

Or visit her website: http://www.beautybrowsmakeup.co.uk/ for more details and information on where to find her.

What HD Brows Ltd says:

A great video from Pixiwoo, where Nic gets the HD Brow treatment, and is just as happy as I am!

Now you can all breathe a huuuge sigh of relief, knowing my left eyebrow (or my right for that matter) won't be knocking on any doors or windows in the middle of the night...

We, are all safe...for now ;)

My Amazing Eyelashes Experience: LVL Lashes Review

Recently, just in time for the Christmas season, I had a little treat with a big impact, and had my eyelashes done.

There's been a lot of hype over Hollywood lashes/eyelash extensions in the last couple of years, and as tempting as it was, I never really wanted to cover up my own lashes, just enhance them. When I heard there was a more natural version out there that did just that, I had to try it out.

The treatment is called 'LVL Lashes' and permanently lifts and tints your own eyelashes, making them look longer and more voluminous - not to mention extremely curly.
I'd had this treatment done previously, and absolutely loved it, so as soon as the last curly lash dropped out, I had to go back...

Let me give you a little back-story on my lashes...

(You don't have to read this bit, but it's here just in case)

If you know me then you will know I have always had eyelash issues, shall we say...

So many people say 'without mascara you can't see my lashes', but for me the problem is worse.

My lashes are the droopy, pale, pointing down type that actually sort of obscure my eyes with mascara on, that is, unless I curl them.

Wearing mascara only gets me so far, it's curling my lashes that makes the difference, and let me tell you it is no mean feat...

My make up routine is simple enough until I get to my lashes, I'm not exaggerating when I say it takes me up to 5 minutes to curl each eye, using ermm...home made heated eyelash curlers, (regular curlers that I heat up with a hairdryer, I don't advocate this) over and over again until they are almost vertical. It takes me so long because as soon as that mascara wand gets even close to my eyelashes, it's like they sense it and start to droop again! My daily drama with my eyelashes has been going on since I was 14, and got my first ever curlers. 

Doing my mascara is a careful, and longggg process, so not to disturb the curl I've created. It works, but it's a pain...hence, I'd been looking for a way out.

And back to the treatment...

 I took a trip to see local beauty therapist Rachel Brooker, who is a friend of mine, and quite frankly, a full on genius.

She explained what LVL Lashes are and how they work.

You can find out how here, because the pro's will explain it a lot better than I ever could!

What I do know is that it takes around an hour, and happens in several stages, the last stage being a tint to darken your fabulous new lashes and give them extra impact.

As soon as the tint is wiped off, you're done, and let me tell you the results are pretty amazing!

Before and After:

Photo's courtesy of Rachel Brooker :) 

Where before my eyes look bald and lash-less, now my lashes genuinely look either false, or as though I have several coats of mascara on - all the time! 

Morning, noon and night for the next 6-8 weeks, my eyelashes will look like this or similar, as they do begin to drop out naturally, and I am over the moon!

For the first 24 hours, it is advised to not go crazy with your lashes, but really, you wouldn't need to anyway.

Quite a few days in the last week, I haven't worn mascara on my top lashes at all. I haven't needed to, and it's been a breath of fresh air.

After the first day or so you can literally treat them as though they are your usual lashes. The treatment is very gentle and not damaging at all, my eyelashes aren't brittle, and I don't think I have lost many more, if any than I would usually do in a week...

The last time I had them done, (in August) they withstood a week of blazing Greek sunshine, make-up, tears and all the usual daily traumas your eyes face, and I still had a few lifted lashes left in mid-November. Of course everyone is different, but for me at least, the 6-8 week time scale was correct.

 I took these photo's on day 1, wearing no top mascara on at all. Given that the difference between my top and bottom lashes is so minimal, it's safe to say I'll be saving money on mascara for a while.

With mascara on, the results are even better.

Let's just say I've been fairly camera happy over the last week...

*Just a special moment for my freakishly long eyelash, (mascara fibre) in photo 2 yeahh*

So...that's the end of my little review there, but I can absolutely guarantee that I'll be re-booking in a few weeks time, once my old eyelashes start to make their unwelcome reappearance.

I'd like to say a huuuuge thank you to Rachel Brooker for making it such a lovely experience, making my eyelashes look super-human, and making my make-up routine 90% shorter.

:D

Bit of info for you little lovelies...
Rachel is based in the Marsh area of Huddersfield, at her very own in-house Beauty Room, and is a Master Stylist and Elite Trainer fr HD Brows. Rachel also does various treatments from shellac, to waxing, LVL Lashes, and make-up for various occasions.
So if you're in Huddersfield or somewhere else for that matter, I cannot recommend her, or this treatment enough.

For more information or to book an appointment with Rachel, you can call her directly on 07990525258.
Or visit her website for more information on what she does and where to find her...

:)

LVL Lashes:

If anyone wants to see the actual process, Lisa Eldridge did a brilliant video on her channel, where she explains in depth and shows a similar treatment.

Merry Christmas-cara Everyone :D (see what I did there? Haha...sorry, I'll stop)