Ten Blogger Questions

Thanks to Mel from Blogging it Beautiful for nominating me to complete these ten blogger questions, they might provide a little bit more insight into myself and my blog! These are the questions below:

                              

1. How did you choose your blog name? 

My blog is called Blogging it Beautiful and I wanted something to reflect what I blog about which is predominantly beauty. It's as simple as that! Also I like the alliteration. 

2. Why did you decide to start a blog? 

I was never one to religiously read blogs before I started but I used to find myself googling a product and blogger review after it in the Google search so I could find out what real girls like myself thought about it before I went out and bought it. I thought why don't I start blogging and writing reviews, plus I am studying journalism so it's a really good idea to have something to show that you can write regularly and relatively well! I know I use slang a lot in this and write more conversationally but I think that suits the blog better! It can be like we are having a cuppa and a chat! 

3. Have you any tips for beginner bloggers? 

Find your niche, and do it really well. It's good to have a strong thread running through your blog, and then you can have other side posts on other things you interest you, but I think if you want to grow your audience and readers you have to focus a lot on thing or it can get a bit messy. Just get writing, don't be afraid to network. Social media is so important, for example you should have Twitter. It is a great way to connect with other bloggers and interact with PR companies etc. 

4.If you could only ever wear clothes from one store what would it be (money no object)

River Island was the first shop that popped into my mind. I am a Penneys girl but if money was no inject 100% RI, love the jeans, the fit of dresses and they always have such in trend styles. Most o f all they are true to size. I don't shop anywhere expensive so I wouldn't know what the clothes were like anywhere designer, I'm most definitely a high street girl at heart! 

5. What is your all time favourite makeup brand? 

MAC. Amazing quality products. The artists are so creative as well and I have never met a MAC lipstick I didn't like! Low budget would have to be Catrice. I think for the price, the makeup is fantastic quality. 

6. What are your favourite perfumes? 

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique, Valentina by Valentino and Ma Vie by Boss are my current faves. 

Girly, sensual scents with vanilla notes are my go to perfumes. 

7. What three words would you use to describe yourself? 

Bubbly, confident and outgoing. 

8. What makeup product could you not live without? 

Mascara! I feel like a no lash Lucy without my coated lashes! I also couldn't go outside the house without foundation on as I have a very rosy complexion. 

9. If you could swap lives with any celebrity who would it be? 

        

         

I was gonna say Beyonce, because Queen Bey, BUT I think I will go with Cameron Diaz. She always seems like she is having a good time. She seems like such a fun person and she is gorgeous so why not! 

10. What is the best makeup tip you have ever seen or been given? 

I think learning how to contour, highlight and fill in my eyebrows have transformed my life haha I don't know if there is anything in particular that someone taught me. Learning how to contour and highlight has definitely made a difference to my face so I am going to go with that. Creating cheekbones and making your face stand out in photos is a fab trick to have up your sleeve. 

                

I enjoyed answering those! Now I would like to nominate Leanne from Blather and Beauty, Stephanie O'Quigley from Snappedup.ie and Cat from BigBlondeGirl to answer these questions below. Xx

These are your questions girls! 

1. What's the best advice you have ever been given? 

2. What would be your last meal on earth? 

3. If you could buy one thing right now (money no object) what would it be? 

4. Why did you start blogging? 

5. What's your favourite quote? 

6. What's your favourite beauty product. (brand, shade, etc) 

7. What's been the best blogging moment for you? 

8. If you could have dinner with any three people right now who would they be and why? 

9. Have you ever experienced any negativity while blogging?

10. What are your three handbag beauty essentials? 

Hope you enjoy answering the questions, some serious and some lighthearted! 

RULES

-Thank and tag the person who nominated you. 

-Answer all questions given to you my the person who nominated you. 

-Create a new list of questions for the people you nominated to answer. 

-List these rules

-Inform the people you have nominated 

Thanks ladies! Xo

   

    

Botanics Micellar Water and Radiance Balm Review

                            

Boots is a one stop shop for your all your beauty bits and while in there recently only browsing I saw these two products on offer from their Boots botanics range. Now I can't remember exactly what I paid for them but it was just over the three euro mark each as they were on special. 

I picked up the Micellar 3 in 1 cleansing solution which claims to 'remove makeuo, unclog pores and remove impurities'. I wanted to compare it to my Garnier Micellar water. It removes makeup, but it stings the bejaysus out of my delicate sensitive skin. The makeup doesn't come off as easily as the Garnier Micellar water. You have to soak your cotton pad at least four or five times to remove all makeuo whereas with Garniers version two swipes will do. It says it suits all skin types but as someone with sensitive skin with some dry areas it made my skin red, stingy and tight. Not what you want when you are relaxing for bed. 

Next up I picked up the all bright radiance balm. I had never used anything like this before not even a brightening primer, but I love it! You only need a tiny amount like a pea sized amount for your face so be careful as it does squeeze out quite a lot of it. 

                           

This is it on the skin, it gives a really subtle luminous finish. It has a slight blue pink iridescent sheen to it, making the skin look radiant. I used it in this makeup look below and I think my skin really took on a different quality to it. 

                           

It gives almost a glow from within look, and for a product that cost less than four euro that ain't bad! ;) 

   

Foundation Brushes and How to Use Them

It can be confusing with the large market of makeup brushes out there which is for what part of your face, take foundation brushes for instance. You have your buffing, your stippling, your flat foundation, your duo-fibre...it can all get a little bit overwhelming! So I decided to do a little breakdown of four of the most popular type of foundation brushes out there. I will breakdown their uses, the differences, what I like about them, et cetera, so read on if you are interested! :) 

The most popular foundation brush for beginners is the flat foundation brush. This is part of a Nima brush collection which you can buy on nimabrush.ie there is also a new collection out at the minute, there are lots of different brands however that do a flat foundation brush have a look in your local Boots. This can be very helpful for layering your foundation in light layers and for blending it in with quick strokes. Some people are afraid that using this brush will cause streaks in their makeup but just use a smaller amount of product and work it in quick strokes up and back across the face and this will eliminate a streaky foundation face! 

Next up, is what is known as a fluffy duo fibre brush. This means the brush is made of two different "hairs" it can help it grab a lot of product. This type of brush is great for dotting product onto the skin and then using a stippling motion you can work the product into the skin for a natural finish. If you feel the flat foundation brush didn't work the foundation into your skin enough, I like to blend this duo fibre over the skin to give it a more flawless natural look. This brush can also pick up a lot of product so depending on how you use it, it can help you gain a full coverage makeup look. 

This is my first Blank Canvas brush, the G36. It is a small duo fibre brush suitable for stippling and blending foundations and cream blushes and highlighting products. Using small circular motions this brush will really work the product into your skin and can be useful for around the nose and mouth areas. It is made of a blend of synthetic fibres and goat hair. 

The expert face brush from Real Techniques was very hyped about a whole back in the blogosphere. I wouldn't recommend this brush for beginners. It can be very good for building a high coverage look. It is ultra firm with densely packed bristles perfect for blending cream and liquid products. If you want to pack on a product this is perfect, it can be difficult to get the knack of first. 

So there you have it ladies, there are zillions of foundation brushes out there but that's a breakdown of four of the most used types. Let me know if it helps at all or if you need any more tips on the right brush to buy. 

Lots of love, blogging it beautiful xoxo 

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

One of a makeup artists most hated chores is having to clean her makeup brushes. It is so important however to clean your brushes once a week if you are using them personally or after every use if you are using them on a client to ensure you are not spreading bacteria around your face and causing blemishes and other imperfections. I'll admit I am so lazy when it comes to this, so I am always in search of something that will make it that little bit easier. 

Sigma had a silicone brush cleaning glove out at one point that you could swirl your washed makeup brushes against to remove excess makeup and grime by the texture on the glove. It cost nearly twenty euro if I remember rightly so I decided to hunt for something similar. This sounds very random but Penneys had a silicone oven glove on sale in their home wear section a while back that looked like a dupe for the brush cleaning glove but I couldn't find that so picked this up instead: 

                     

It's a facial cleansing pad from Penneys, it cost a euro. It has a similar texture on the pad that I believe will help really clean your brushes. I wouldn't use this on your more delicate brushes but on your tightly packed duo fibre ones I think this would do the job! 

Now to wash your makeup brushes you are going to need baby shampoo or regular shampoo will do to cleanse your brushes, warm water is also essential. 

                    

I line up all my brushes, and start running hot water. I wet the brushes, I do these two at a time then massage some shampoo into the bristles. I then rub the brushes either in circles on the palm of my hand under the running water or else rub them against the textured pad as you can see in the picture below. 

                    

It's supposed to be gentle enough to use on your face so it shouldn't damage your brushes and really helps get all that build up of makeup out as you can see in the pic. You might have to rinse, and repeat the shampoo and rinse and massage again under the warm water until it runs clear if your brushes have gone a while without a wash. 

Don't let the water run down into the metal part of the brush as this will soften the glue and make your brushes fall apart. 

When all your brushes are washed and rinsed I would ensure they aren't sopping wet, squeeze  excess water out gently and make sure the brushes are retaining their shape. To make sure my brushes are really clean I run them against dry tissue paper if any makeup marks appear on the tissue it's back under the tap with them! 

The best way for makeup brushes to dry is hanging over the side of a shelf or bath so they can drip dry so the air can get to them like I did below.

                       

Your brushes will take up to twenty four hours to dry. When they have dried you can sanitise them thoroughly if you are using them on a clients face apart a brush cleaner on them and rub them into tissue paper again. Now you are good to go! 

Happy face painting xoxo 

Urban Decay Vice Palette Review + Looks

           

I'm here to talk about the absolutely SHA-mazzzzing Limited Edition Urban Decay vice palette. To say I was disappointed when I heard it was sold out in Debenhams here was an understatement but then on my birthday my Mums friend surprised me with this little gem all the way from Macy's in New York! How lucky am I? 

This is one of my favourite palettes because of the quality of the shadows, they are gorgeous and oh so blendable and because of the range of shades and finishes in this palette. Starting from the left there are nude matte everyday wearable shades and working all the way in their are jewel tone ending with the gorgeous smoky tones on the right. Also included was a dual ended eyeshadow brush and a handy little travel pouch! That might actually fit my iPad mini come to think of it! 

                  

I always start with the neutral cream shade Truth which I pat all over the eye as a base. I am loving DTF and undone as neutral crease colours to contour the eye. Broke down, reign or angel are all nice shimmery greys and Browns to add to a neutral eye look. 

In this makeup look I used Last Sin a champagne pink shimmer on the inner corner, And Angel and Defy on the outer corners. I also love Bobby Dazzle its a fantastic white highlight colour. 

 

I'm also using this palette to make more brave colour choices like in the above photo where I used Sonic a shimmery red shadow and Lucky a dark gold pigment. I can't wait to start using more of the cranberry and pink tones such as Alien and Alchemy, I also think Bondage and Defy would look fantastic together. One is a deep purple and the other is a charcoal grey. 

I used Freeze, a stunning Aqua shimmer shadow for my sixties makeup look here: 

   

I paired the eyeshadow with a light pink lip. I used a Fuschia lipstick called Butterfly kisses but lightened it up with some concealer, nude pink lips and pale blue eyeshadow with a graphic line and big lashes were very popular in the sixties. I know, I googled it ;) the lashes are Eyelure Sexy Señorita. 

This palette is extremely versatile and no doubt I will get plenty of use out of it over the next year! I can't wait to experiment, it's such a pretty case as well. This will take pride of place on my dresser. 

The Urban Decay vice palette retails for €49.80 from Debenhams.