16 Mar 2015

Face oils as moisturisers

Since last year and a half I have been experimenting with oils as moisturisers as I felt my skin needed something different to a cream due to breakouts. 

The ones that I have tried are below 

I started with the Sanctuary's therapist secret facial oil and used it straight after a shower and felt it made my skin a lot clearer, softer and brighter after a few months of use. To be honest, it was people around me who thought my skin looked very fresh for a change.





The above has been 'lifted' from the Boots website about this product. Hmmm as I have mature skin, am assuming this is why this product suited me :-). To be honest, I was reading about some of these ingredients and their effects on the skin and found that rosehip oilf contains the natural highest amounts of retinol and is therefore responsible for making more collagen etc

I then decided to use pure organic rosehip on its own on my skin instead and hence bought a bottle from Boots by Trilogy. I found this oil slightly thicker than the Sanctuary one as am sure that oil has a base oil with everything else mixed in it.

Also, I had that there are some amazing organic rosehip oils available in Australia so I ordered the Rosehip Plus and find it very similar to the one by Trilogy.

In general my skin looks more hydrated and to the touch feels smooth and actually looks smoother than ever before but ofcourse there is a limit as no scars from acne like pitting will reverse to flatsmooth  surface with these products.

But hey there are loads of other things out there to experiement with too.....and makeup only looks better on skin that is smooth and in decent condition to begin with enhancing your best features not masking them!



Tom Ford shade and illuminate by Sana K Makeup (Makeup artist and Hairstylist)

As contouring is the biggest thing on social media since Kim Kardashian or should I say thanks to her, here is my most luxurious item in two shades provided by Tom Ford beauty. Shade 1 is more of a flat brown (still has some warmth though) and shade 2 is a reddy brown (much warmer). In the pictures below I have swatched on my hand shade 1 is on the left and shade 2 is on the right. On the top of these colours I swatched the white creamy high lighter which on the skin looks like a shiny or a dewy effect.


The consistency of both the browny shader and the white looking high lighter is creamy and provides a satin effect. 
If you have oily skin I would not recommend this product as it will make you look shiny or maybe even sweaty especially the high lighter. You may try using a powder after to set this.

In London weather I have used this product several times on people with combination skin and dry skin and found it works a treat.

I have ofcourse as always used it on myself and always love the effect it gives onces blended in. I am an nc35 in MAC cosmetics and can use intensity 1. Intensity 2 looks very orangey on my skin so unless I have had a tan and can use nc44 I would not bother.

As a makeup artist I have experimented with this product further, and ended up using them as cream eye shadows and lip stains for photoshoots and again loved using them.

If you have used Kryolan TV paint sticks then I would say that in comparion Tom Ford shade and illuminators are very creamy and will not last more than half a day as oppsed to the dry consistency of Kryolan or Dermacolour for long wear that lasts even in humid conditions (like in the sub continent). Kryolan is also a thicker product whereas this is sheerer even though it is a cream.

10 Mar 2015

Lorac behind the scenes eye primer

At first glance through the tube, the primer itself is pink coloured. At first I thought maybe that is a great idea as it would have a dual purpose of being a primer and a corrector for pigmented lids. 
The application was a bit streaky on my skin and chalky although felt creamy to the touch. I took a picture of the primer on my hand to show you the colour but realised that this unfortunately is not great for flash pictures as it has a flash back. This was confirmed once I took a picture with my eyeshadow on with it underneath. I do not want a eye primer which will look glowy in flash pictures so this is no no for me and my clients am afraid. 

Dolce & Gabbana the foundation perfect luminous liquid foundation teinteclat parfait


Having heard many a good things about this foundation, I finally decided to try this  particular one for my (aging skin). God only knows as I would like to look luminous and glowy with little bit of cover up now and again (sigh).....

I purchased 2 shades (as I am a mixer woman) as I wanted something with a yellow shade and something warm and peachy. 

shade 120 is on the left and 144 is on the right. 120 has a more yellow golden tone to it and 144 has a more peachy warmer tone. Saying that I found that both colours when they come out of the bottle look lighter but ince blended into the skin oxidise and so darken.

I found that 120 even though looks remarkably yellowy still has some pink undertone to it and this is something I had heard about this range that none of their colours have a true yellow undertone. 

I have swatched on my hand here
Second picture already shows some darkening

This is both rubbed into my skin looking very peach!


Pictures of this on my face with flash photography to follow 

1 Mar 2015

Lorac behind the scenes eye primer

At first glance through the tube, the primer itself is pink coloured. At first I thought maybe that is a great idea as it would have a dual purpose of being a primer and a corrector for pigmented lids. 
The application was a bit streaky on my skin and chalky although felt creamy to the touch. I took a picture of the primer on my hand to show you the colour but realised that this unfortunately is not great for flash pictures as it has a flash back. This was confirmed once I took a picture with my eyeshadow on with it underneath. I do not want a eye primer which will look glowy in flash pictures so this is no no for me and my clients am afraid.