Vita Liberata 2-3 week tan

The search for the perfect false tan is almost as frustrating as the search for the perfect foundation. Over the years, I've tried them all. St. Tropez (not dark enough), St. Moritz (stinks), Sublime Bronze (Can't see where you're putting it - streak extravaganza), Fake Bake (love but it comes off in a terrible fashion) and finally Xen Tan - which is my ultimate favourite tan. For me, it's an amazing colour, it has a redder undertone, which compliments the pinky tones of my skin and doesn't leave me with a yellow/green tinge to my skin. Importantly though, at least for me anyway, it comes off nicely. It doesn't go patchy and disgusting in the usual areas - collarbone, wrists etc, although it does stick to my dry underarms. A small price to pay I feel.

Could I just stop though and say, I've found the perfect tan, stop trying others. No, I couldn't. This was of course only exacerbated by a boots 3 for 2 offer on false tan. I decided to try Vita Liberata 2-3 week tan. My friend has raved about it for a while now and I trust her as her tan is always beautiful. And this tan does not disappoint. I got the dark mousse. My only qualms are that it's not very dark, and it doesn't last 2-3 weeks. But it's super easy to apply and it dries straight away, meaning you can apply it in the morning and go about your daily business - it even has no smell whatsoever. And it fades like a natural tan. Its not cheap - I think I paid £40 but it is in my opinion, one of the nicest tans that you can buy. I still use my Xen Tan dark lotion when I want a really deep tan, but for every day, this is now my go to tan. And if it's on 3 for 2, you're getting money off in a way. Well worth it. 

Just stop it with the brows now!

Usually, I will try to remain as professional as I can when writing these blogs - impartial, well-rounded and considerate. I can no longer do this - STOP IT WITH THESE BROWS. I have no idea why or how this brow trend has come about, and let's face it, we've probably all been guilty of filling them in and then getting a glimpse of yourself through the train window and thinking "wow, I've overdone the brows a bit today". Myself included. Sometimes it's really hard to put your make-up on at 6am, I know. 

Somewhere along the line, somebody has got their wires crossed and so people think that it's ok for your eyebrows to have a perfectly geometric SQUARE at the front of them. It's not. It's also not ok for them to be 3 shades darker than your hair for that matter, or black. Even if you have black hair. There's a reason that MAC discontinued their Velvetone brow pencil. 

Here's a few tips to consider when picking a shade for your brows:

• Go cool! - anything with a warm undertone always looks completely false and harsh in the brow. That having been said, if you are a natural ginger, or have red tones in your hair, you're more likely to get away with it. If you don't, then you need to think of colours that have a more grey undertone to them. Trust me, they won't look grey when they're on. If you don't trust me, try it and see for yourself. 
• Go for a shade that looks a couple of shades lighter than your hair - this is particularly true if you're picking a brow powder. Brow powders are usually applied with a stiff, angled brush which will pick up and deposit a lot of product. Remember too that it sticks to the hairs, which is going to make your brows appear immediately darker. You'll be surprised how much darker the colour looks after application. This rule is true for brow pencils too. If a client has brown hair, I usually always go for lingering pencil, which is a medium brown from MAC. 
• A little can look like a lot - I always usually start by filling in the arch of the brow with a powder. Instantly, the brow looks a lot stronger without getting my ruler out and drawing a square at the front! Sometimes, if the client wants a more defined brow (this wouldn't really work on a softer brow), I will draw a base line under the arch so that the brow has more structure. The front of the brow is always filled in by using what's left on the brush and flicking it upwards to create a soft shadow. Remember this is the part of the brow that has the least hairs and in order for it to look natural, it must look lighter than the rest. 

Look at this picture of Rosie Huntington-Whitely...

The top pictures features a lighter brow - the first thing you see is her amazing skin and voluptuous red lip. The focus is not on the brow at all, which perfectly compliments the make up by staying in the background. The brows are a few shades lighter than her hair. The second picture, in which she is still looking super gorgeous, is an old burberry ad that I came across. Her brows are darker, although they still match her hair. They are the focus of that make up though. Even being the focus, they are still a shade lighter than her hair! The overall effect of the first image is that we see the make up before we see her brows. She could have worn a strong brow here but would have to have done away with the flick liner - it would all be too much. 

This is demonstrated by this picture, which shows what celebs would look like should they all have what is fondly (can you sense my sarcasm?) known as 'The Scouse Brow"; 

It completely detracts from the beauty and femininity of these women, making them look harsh. I'm all for filling your brows in but I just wish somebody would stand with a megaphone in Liverpool one and give people some tips! I'm not volunteering by the way! If you've read this, then hopefully, you won't need the megaphone treatment! 

Lisa x

Jump the gun??

You'll probably remember (it was only the other day), I went in all guns blazing, raving about the tube BB bronzers that mac have brought out. Now...when I've tried them in work, it has been when my makeup has been on for a fair few hours and we are having a play with new products - and I've loved it every time! However, for the past couple of days, I've applied it after foundation and before powder and for some reason, it just hasn't worked. It's looked patchy and quite ashy. I have no idea why it's doing this and now I'm fearing that I've jumped the gun and should have waited until I had given it a good test drive before I insisted that you all buy it. I've still to try the compact one so maybe I will give that a go and see if it's any better. I love the normal BB compact so have a feeling I will love the bronzers too but I will let you all know when I have used them enough to make a rounded judgement!

I hope you haven't all gone out to buy it but if you have, and you loved it, tell me how you're applying it. In work, I've used a 131 brush (discontinued) and outside of work I've used a Real Techniques buffing brush. 

Thanks for reading, 

Lisa x

FINALLY!!! A cream bronzer for oily skin!

Oily skin has its benefits - less wrinkles, looking like you glow from within, that kind of thing. It also has its disadvantages and not being able to use cream products is one of them. Now really, I haven't had any need to use cream products because an hour after I put on my powder bronzer it looks dewy anyway but nevertheless, I've always loved the idea of using creams and creating a gorgeous glowing skin that will last and most importantly won't look like I've washed my face with a deep fat fryer! 

The day has finally came. Yesterday, MAC released their range of BB bronzers. I've got to say that I've been in LOVE with their compact BB cream for dry skins - it looks like silk on the skin and actually has a really nice coverage to it, a little more than your average BB cream but not so that it looks or feels heavy on the skin. Alas, I cannot wear it because its properties mean that it pumps moisture into the skin. The tube version, created for a more oily skin, doesn't settle right on me either. Now they have expanded the range to include a compact cream bronzer, and a tube gel bronzer. I was sceptical at first about the tube, having not been a fan of the original tube BB, however when I've tried it, all of my scepticisms have been blown away. I cannot get enough. And here's more...it SETS!!! It gives my skin a glow and then stays there. It doesn't move around the skin like it's compact cream sister, but stays where I put it. Better still, the colours are so gorgeous! Golden, refined golden and amber all give gorgeous bronze glows with a slight shimmer - perfect for the summer! I've just bought Amber so far as I've yet to try the others but I have a feeling that refined golden (the darkest of the three) will be coming with me on holiday this year. They're just to die for. 

I haven't tried the compact on anybody yet with it just having came out yesterday but I'm sure it will be gorgeous! And they're permanent! LOVE!

Bridal Makeup - How much should I expect to pay?

Ahh bridal make up. It's a make up artist's bread and butter, but most of all, especially for me, it's the best part of a make up artist's job. I love the buzz on the morning of a wedding but also, it's such a nice feeling to know that you have been a part of somebody's big day in such a special way. Just think about your hair and make up on your average night out - if it goes wrong, it has an effect on the way your whole night goes because the way you feel about the way you look effects your attitude for the whole day. As shallow as it sounds, it's the foundation on which my whole job is built. Making somebody feel good about themselves is addictive. And on no other day is this more important than on your wedding day. And, it's the reason why people seem to get away with charging so much for bridal make up.

That having been said, I completely agree with a higher charge for a bridal application. Bridal make up is not your average Saturday night make up. I have had various people say to me that they want their make up the exact same way that they wore it last Saturday and despite the fact that it may look the same, there will be subtle changes such as a different primer, or highlighter to avoid flashback. A different texture lipstick to avoid an awkward hair stuck to the lip situation as well as waterproof eyeliner and mascaras. Not to mention the fact that more time, care and effort is taken to ensure that the makeup fits in perfectly to your theme. 

I ask where you're getting married, what style of dress you're having, the colour of the bridesmaids dresses, the time of day, the flowers. I want to know every little detail, and not just because I'm being nosey, but because all of this adds to my thought and creativity process when designing a look just for you. Say for example, you are having peach bridesmaids and soft peach and white flowers and I put a pink blusher and lipstick on you, this will be glaringly obvious and will stand out a mile. 

Then there's the weather on the day! Last July saw one of the hottest days on record for us in the UK and as I was on my way  to my bride that day, I could feel the sweat on my forehead and knew I would have to make changes to her make up so that it would stay all day. And it did. Because she hired a professional who charged her that little bit more for her expertise. I do charge more for a bride than for a bridesmaid because that extra time and effort goes on the bride on her big day. I will of course give the mother of the bride and bridesmaids a fabulous service that they will not be unhappy with, but there's no denying that it's the bride's  day and it's so important that they are happy with their make up and how they feel on the day. They are going to be photographed more than they have ever been in their lives. 

So you should expect to pay more for your bridal make up - not a ridiculous amount but if a make up artist was giving you the same service that they give you on a Saturday night, then they're not doing their job properly. 

Body Shop Tea Tree Range

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we all know my skin is problematic and very, very oily. We all know I do the odd stint at MAC - put the two together and it spells disaster for my skin. I'm now used to wearing minimal makeup when going about my daily business and only ever really wear it when I'm going somewhere nice, like having lunch with friends etc. Wearing it every day really took its toll on my skin and I had a breakout. I feel like I've tried every product on the planet. 

I didn't go into the body shop for skincare. I went into the body shop for a facial massager. Which I got, and I've got to admit, despite not really having used it enough to see a difference, I'm not really sure what the point is. Perhaps it's one of those things that needs to be used regularly enough to see a difference. It feels nice though. However, I'm waffling. I saw a bottle of Tea Tree Facial Wash (£5) and thought it couldn't hurt to give it a whirl. I saw an instant difference in my skin. The next day my skin was visibly clearer. I had two massive spots on my cheek and they had almost completely gone. So much so that my boyfriend, who knows to tip-toe around the whole skin issue, mentioned how clear my skin looked. He even used it himself and was so impressed that he asked me to buy him a bottle for his own house. He loves it too. 

I use it every morning and every night. In the morning as a first cleanse and in the evening as a second cleanse, once I have removed my makeup. Loving it. And so cheap! I want to buy some other bits in the range. The website says the evening lotion is a best seller so I may give that a try next time I'm passing The Body Shop. It's so cheap, and I've honestly not found anything that has been so effective for a while!

Give it a try if you have oily, problematic skin!

On a side note, I have been using simple moisturiser throughout my dermaroller process but reverted back to my Clarins Hydraquench lotion again last week - my skin came out in a million tiny little bumps. I think it's just too rich for my skin, which is a shame as I have a full £40 tube of it left!

Dermaroller Update!

I had my second dermaroller treatment a few week ago. It was definitely more painful than last time, but Paula was more intense with the roller this time, given that my skin is quite resilient and she did want some pin-point bleeding. The down time for this treatment was about 2 weeks, so much longer than last time. At first, I was scared that I had made a huge mistake because my skin was red and flaking so much after it, not to mention the fact that I had got it into my head that it would cause more scarring because it makes the skin bleed! Instead of stressing, I chose to just have a really good skin care regime and do some more research - whilst some skincare specialists say that the skin doesn't have to bleed, a lot say it is necessary to see any real effect. 

However, 2 weeks after treatment, my skin has calmed down so much, and by continuing with my good skincare regime, I've not had any breakouts. My skin is looking fresher and more even in tone. The red scars have really started to disappear. The atrophic scars however are still quite prominent, although my mum says that my skin definitely looks smoother. I will take her word for it, as she is my biggest critic and also looks at my face every day. After the first treatment, I definitely believe that the biggest difference was seen after the microdermabrasion session, and I've just had my second one of those today. Hopefully I will see even more of a difference than I did last time. I'm happy with my results so far and I've come to realise that it's a slow process and I'm not going to see any overnight success. It can only get better though!

Lisa x

My experience with Dermaroller so far!

I've had my first dermaroller treatment. Unfortunately life seems to have got in the way of blogging lately, as it so often does and so I come to you just over a month after having the first treatment. 

Firstly, let me start with all the details. Dermaroller is a treatment in which a roller covered in tiny needles is rolled all over your skin. The idea is that your skin is forced into trauma and therefore, your collagen is forced to reproduce, filling out any hole, lumps, bumps or fine lines that you might have. My main areas of concern are my cheeks, which have atrophic (indented) acne scarring, more so on my right cheek where the worst of my acne tends to flare up. There are various concerns that Dermaroller is recommended to treat for instance acne scarring as well as fine lines and I've even seen some amazing results on stretch marks. I am getting treatment with a 1.5mm needle at Transform's Liverpool clinic.  It's recommended that you get it done by a practitioner however, you can buy a dermaroller yourself and do it at home. Warning though, it may be the cheaper option, but it's pretty gruesome - I honestly don't think I have the balls or the stomach to do it myself at home. My lovely nurse Paula talked me through the process and said that you have to make the skin bleed in order to get some kind of result. All the official dermaroller videos I've watched on YouTube support this, so if I'm being honest, I couldn't do this to myself no matter how much money I was saving.

Speaking of money. It's expensive. Not as expensive as fraxel laser, or something more extreme like that, but it's not just a day's wages. The first treatment is £290 and all the ones thereafter are £260. Expensive. The benefit of going somewhere like Transform is that there is an amazing amount of support but also you build up points on a loyalty card which can be used for anything you want. I've chosen to use it for microdermabrasion treatments between rolling. 

So let me talk you through the process. Charlotte who works for transform is brilliant and knows her stuff about the treatment. She makes you feel really comfortable and like you have known her for years! She booked me in for a consultation with Paula, which due to car trouble, I couldn't attend. I was incredibly scared to get the treatment done (did I mention they roll needles across your face?) that I had almost decided not to do it. I remained however, really depressed about my skin and so I knew I had to do something about it. Charlotte was really kind, leaving me to have the Christmas break to think about it. I went into research overload and figured it really couldn't be that scary. 

So I booked in with Paula for the treatment with a consultation beforehand. She explained everything so thoroughly and took my before pictures. The brilliant thing is that I wasn't conned into having a course, or even more than I needed. She explained to me that it takes 6 weeks for your collagen to reproduce after there has been stimulation such as micro needling (the medical term for dermaroller - dermaroller is the brand) and that one treatment is going to see minimal difference. Two was recommended however it was completely on me.  She said that I can book as many, or as few as I wanted to, depending on how happy I was with the results that I was seeing. I've given myself a guideline of 3 and will see how I get on after that. I've seen some amazing results from the before and after pictures that she showed me. 

So I was numbed with a strong numbing cream for about half an hour. During this time I found out that one of my best friends had been successful for a really amazing job and I was jumping around the waiting room in excitement, unable to move my face. Attractive. Needless to say, I felt numb. Not as numb as when you go to the dentist, but sufficiently numb that I couldn't feel my nail when I dug it into my own face (I was about to stick needles in it, I had lost all rationality). Paula cleansed my skin and then got going. It was unpleasant. It stung. It wasn't unbearable. There were place in which it hurt more, like he forehead which is extra bony. I was left with pin-prick needle marks all over my face, which stayed for about 5-6 days. They say there's no downtime but I definitely think there is. I left make up off for 3 days. The needle marks heal over in 4 hours though, and I was given a lovely mask to wear on that night which really helps with the hydration of the skin after trauma. 

In the week or so after the treatment, my skin felt quite dry and tight and I was advised to avoid products with alcohol etc. I haven't noticed a massive difference in my skin, however, I have noticed that the redder marks have died down a lot - they used to look really angry but I don't even have to use much concealer on them anymore! I have my next one on Wednesday and I'm looking forward to it. I've communicated with a lot of people who've had it done and everybody seems to agree that the second treatment is definitely the one where you see the results start to come, and it only gets better from here. I have pictures on my instagram page - @hollywoodfaceliverpool 

I would upload them on here but I'm a complete technaphobe and don't know how to do it!

I will definitely keep you all updated, I can't wait to see my before and after pics after 3 sessions, I'm hopefully going to see a positive difference!