All or Nothing.

Kimevamay / / 2,824 Comments

photo (34)

Wearing Mac’s Blacktrack Fluidline and Neo-Orange Pigment. 

I’d hate to admit it, but my hand in that picture is pretty much how it looks day to day. It’s like wearing a semi-permanent tattoo that somehow transfers over all my clothes at the end of a long day. I wash them ALL the time and it still happens. In fact, this morning I woke to find some of my hair was red. I racked my brains to figure why and then it came to me….last nights neon red lipstick I smothered all over my chops. But you know what, when I do make-up I usually go ALL out…but what about those that feel a little intimated by huge draping and splatters of colour and want that “I’ve pretty much got nothing on but I’m deceiving you” look?

A L L

photo (35)

Products Above: Ciate Nail Art pearls , Eyeshadow Pans in Coppering and Freshwater, Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick, Gold Glitter with Glue Bottom, Imitable Intense Mascara. 

For those “Allers”, yep, my new coined name for you folks. I hand on heart hail you for your incredible ability to express whatever you want externally and to play, play, playyyyyyy with products, colour and textures. You, my friends,  are pretty much the creators of all the trends for testing these out first-hand and giving people afraid to try a little variety and support in their make-up journey.

If you’ve read my posts before, you’ll know I was scared to try new things and embrace being different but it takes courage and a little inspiration to learn to embrace it. I pretty much spent a hell load of my pocket money as a kid on every magazine each month and was totally obsessed with Molly Ringwald in Pretty and Pink and Costume Designer Patricia Field that i wanted to take on my scoop on fashion via makeup.

So if you’re like me and you’re up for trying pretty much anything, i give you a few new products i’m dying to try and i think you Allers might vibe off too….

I don’t really know where to begin with this brand. I’m just in deep, non apologetic love with them. Firstly, they’re cruelty and Vegan Free and the colour options are beyond what you’d find in the high street. These Perlees Lipsticks are perfect for the metallic trend and are so long wearing you could bend down and kiss the floor for Lime Crime bringing them out. My personal favourite shades from this selection are; Beetle, Penny and Roswell

Not long ago my Instagram feed was bulked up with images of this brands lipsticks and I thought it was a joke. Ever wanted a Jelly formulated lipstick with flower petals inside? Not only is it probably the most beautiful lipstick I’ve ever glimpsed my eyes on in a feed scroll, but they’re in such high demand right now, they’re all out of stock! So get ordering now if you want a lipstick that’s ALL out there.

 

I’m sorry, was that Rainbow, i repeat, Rainbow highlighter i just read? Yeah you did! Highlighters hit the web once the strobing trend was going stronger than me struggling to lift the lightest weight at the Gym, but now they are selling them for you Unicorn Lovahs out there. They are taking pre-orders with a waiting list now because everyone wants to grab there hands on them! So for the meantime, feed your highlight addiction with some of Anatastia Beverly Hills Moonchild Glow kits in Pastels and warm sun-dripped tones.

 

N O T H I N G

photo (36)

Products above: Filmstar Bronze & Glow, TenderTalk Balm, Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick, Dusty Rose Pallette x9, Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation.

I’ve always thought there is something deeply beautiful about that “non-makeup, makeup look”, that’s been worked on to face perfection. It’s a real science to find the right tones suitable to your skin and eye colouring and once you’ve nailed it, you can rock it so hard, people just think you’re born that way, regardless of Maybelline.

If you want, easy, ready to get out that door Makeup that makes you look like a more “i’ve had an amazing 9 hours of sleep in the tuscan sun” version of you, then i’ve got some gems for you guys…

If you’re someone struggling to find that “perfect” lip shade, Tender talk balm has got this problem solved to a T. The lipbalm is so moisturising and gives you a unique, personalised tint that subtly enhances your natural lip colour. I wear “Candy Wrapped” and every time I wear it, I am so amazed at the natural pink hues it really brings out of my own lip colour. Say bye, bye lip liner, and hello Tender Talk.

This palette is so perfect for playing around with neutrals that will suit ALL skin tones and eye colours. It’s such a universal palette that will see you right through the summer this season. It gives you a choice of shimmer and mattes with cool taupey greys and warm coopers that will lightly give you that enhancement you’re looking for.

This is just the perfect way of lightly adding a little enhancement on the lashes without going for a false lash look effect. Its pretty much a kit in one, where you’re provided with lash curlers, a Kohl pencil and the first launch of the CT Mascara range that will keep them looking real but a little thicker. This is great for a wiser woman, or someone that just wants to add on what they already have without looking over done. Her range also caters to those that do want a false or dolly lash look….so try out the fat lash first…and then work your way up to lash perfection.

So whether you’re an All or Nothing-(er), rock your look and swap it around from time to time. As someone once told me “it’s only make-up, it wipes off!”.

photo (37)

 

 

 

Take it all with a pinch of salt, wash it down with Tequila and just Roll with it.

Kimevamay / / 3,105 Comments

photo (30)

(Wearing Mac’s Retro-Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bengal Tiger on the lashes and lids using the wand only.)

I’ve been holding back writing about this for a while, but I finally had a fuck it moment and decided to roll with it.

As you may or may not know, I work as a Make-Up Artist. It totally wasn’t in my “career plan”, though I should have read the signs the minute I was 18 and started drunkenly crying in a club toilet cubicle surrounded by smelly piss sobbing over the fact I lost my Chanel Lipstick (which I totally couldn’t afford) that had been discontinued. Forever….Suffice to say, I got over it, puked out the tragedy and started my search for my next perfect shade of lippy. The search turned into a bag full of make-up of all different shades and colours and I got really excited at this land of colour I never knew existed before. My mates would ask why it would take me so long to get ready, especially when they knew I never did it to try and impress or look conventionally “pretty” for those uni boys.

The older I  got, the more experimental I became with my make-up and soon followed my love affair with fashion and play with textures, prints and styles, that reverted to Canvas Mixed-media work along the way. Maybe it came from my background as a trained Actor that inspired my love of dress-up or maybe it was my years of being a suppressed teenager who wanted to fit in and wear that basic staple of a hoody, trainers, and simple cat eye-liner flick at school. I still don’t know-but something installed me to inspire other people to try different things and step outside their comfort zone, when I so craved a figure like that for myself when I  was a kid. When you see others rock outfits you never thought would work, or see the elderly with this level of swag that comes from confidence, it gives you permission to follow suit and find whatever it is you want to explore yourself.

For me, and as Cliché as it may sound Make up is ART. Infact, I think that the majority of what we do can be classified as Art in a way that means something to you personally. Go to a Museum and each piece you see is individually interpreted by something the Artist has been inspired by or felt at that moment in time and it’s relayed to you for you to read in your own way. Listen to a piece of Music and you’ll hear and take from it what you want and every moment you listen it will change to your ear. If you start to think of it like that and see this incredible multitude of people that have fought all there lives to express and to have the giant balls (not literal, some literal) to do so, in generations of change and differing cultures, is so inspiring and brings a total smile on my face of its revolution.

But more recently, I’d been starting to think. Wait, have I taken this too far? Was I trying to make a point using the visual as a guise to do it? Open up my wardrobe and you will see, what I’d probably call a jungle. Admittedly, I really need to chuck out some of my clothes that now feed no purpose but the majority of my stuff is eclectic and unafraid of colour and print (which is very much the opposite of how I used to be).

Working in the industry I work in now, a massive selling point of my work, is, well, myself. I need to believe and be honest in who I am, for the things that I do in my life to be as authentic as they can be. So with that, I explore shape, colour and come up with new ways of using products to keep myself interested and the people too. But. This all comes at a price and the price is that it won’t be everyone’s taste and you have to open yourself up to that possibility and the possibility of it being deemed unappealing or unattractive by others eyes of appreciation. And that’s really okay. Because you have to ask yourself, why do you do it? I mean, why do any of us do it? If you’re doing it to be accepted by others or to appeal to the masses, then maybe that’s not for the right reasons. But hey, we’re all guilty of it and I will be the first to admit that. I had the worst time at School and felt like the ugliest, blandest duckling alive and sadly tried to do everything I could to fit in; to wear the skirts I hated and grow my hair to appear like “The Hills” girls I used to watch on MTV with perfect tans and beach bodies that I never felt I possessed. But truly, that isn’t me and in hindsight it never interested or motivated me. I’m pale regardless of my European roots where my Dad’s side have annoying tans and I was blessed with boobs and a bum that won’t be shrinking down any time soon until I’m 80 years old and super saggy…oh god. Lets erase that thought. And then the more I thought about it (not about the saggy boob part) , the more I thought how long it took me to be where I am and for the people I’ve met and come across who have enabled me to have the authority of doing what I  want to do and admiring me for that. And that’s pretty bloody special and I’m really thankful, especially to those people who I look up to and yes, even the elderly with that undeniable swag. Like my Nana. She absolutely owns her 87 year old title with a swish of the hair and a fearless laugh that makes her captivating for her own reasons.

So if I’ve learnt anything and if I were to end this in anyway…I would ask you to just take it all with a pinch of salt and wash it down with a Tequila and just roll with it, because what else are you gonna do? Drink water? Now that’s just boring…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphic Liner Trend Summer 16′.

Kimevamay / / 3,018 Comments

Graphic Liner all started with the emergence of the infamous, “wing”. Everyone wanted a feline flick and would invest and go through hundreds of different eye-liner shaped tips until they found the right one. In fact, people would dedicate half an hour or more just to get the wing liner as precise and even on each side as possible.

But as time’s gone by people want different things, and as Art imitates Life, Life imitates Art, Art imitates Fashion… yarda yarda yarda, Graphic Liner has hit us by storm this season. Since the mastered flick can now take people less than five minutes before jumping out that door and off to work, I wanted to test to see how wearable and easy the Graphic Liner Trend really was.

As a Makeup Artist myself, I like to experiment and do my make-up everyday and am used to getting on that tube at 8am in the morning for work with a Gothic Ombre Lip, Face gems and fake lashes for dress up theme days that involve me looking like a 1920’s Flapper to an 80’s rock child the next… and I absolutely love it and do it in my daily life to compliment my clothes. BUT if you’re new to make-up it may take a lot of time and practice before you feel confident to walk out the door in a look you’re not as used to doing everyday. Make-up should be empowering and we should use it to enhance who we are, our features, style AND personality which is why I was super excited to test out this bold look.

Theoretically, Makeup is very much science. You use certain shades and textures to enhance or distract and the different shapes you create such as light and shading will impact your overall look. So with that in mind, I already knew the Graphic Liner I was going to stylise would go against that colour and shape theory. For one, Black Liquid Liner and shadow would be brushed up right into the corner of my eyes with a harsh, straight point which would enclose and make my eyes look smaller as well as it cutting off the crease of my eye. Because of this, the rest of my face shape would look harsh and I would lose the natural contours of my face.

That said, I really loved the deep contrast of the pure black liner and blunt lines without any shadow blend which emphasised my eye colour.

GRAPHIC POINTED WING LINER

The first look I experimented with was a straight lined eye-liner with a thick extended wing. To create a bit more interest, I dusted brass gold speckles of glitter onto my temples and in the middle of my socket.

photo (26)

photo (47)

photo (48)

Products:

GRAPHIC CURVED LINER

The second look was a curved black liner, that pointed out at the bottom and continued the deep curved that followed my crease.

photo (49)

photo (27)

Products:

For both looks I would recommend doing your eye make up first and using a angle brush, thin liner brush or flat lip brush. The best brushes for me are from Mac,  Zoeva, Charles Fox (which is based in Covent Garden, London) OR your local Paint Shop (I promise, they do some of the best selection of thin tipped liners EVER).

These aren’t exactly everyday looks but I can see why it  be great to wear during Fashion Week or if you’re going to a rock party or gig and want to stand out…So now I dare you. And if all else fails, just Wing it.

 

Skin Talk

Kimevamay / / 3,575 Comments

photo (25)

Yup, that’s me bare faced letting my skin breathe during the summer sun and boy, it felt good and pretty bladdy exposing at the same time.

Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies, an organ that we might spend years getting to understand, discovering how it adapts and changes to climates and with age.

Skincare isn’t exactly the most fun thing to buy for, well it’s not for me because I want to be buying colourful things filled with pigmented lipsticks and glitter shadows. But investing in the RIGHT skincare for YOUR skin will make a greater impact when it comes to buying those colourful things you want to put on top of it.

Working within the Make-up Industry I’ve met a lot of people that either use the wrong skincare for their skin, don’t use anything at all or don’t know where to start.

So lets begin with the fundamentals when your uncovering what you need to treat your skin and it all begins with your Skin Type.

SKIN TYPE. 

The top layer of your skin is called the Epidermis, and this is the part that absorbs and takes in benefits of whatever you decide to put on it. Everyone’s requirements are going to be totally different based on skin sensitivity, texture and pigmentation. Usually the skin is going to be equated into different sections:

Dry/Dehydrated

People with dehydrated skin are often mislead to believe it’s dry. The characteristics may be dry for short breaks of time but overall your skin is close to normal. Dry skin will feel rougher in texture and can be a result of environmental factors, genetics or the medication you may be using.

Oily 

The key thing to note with oily skin is shine production and enlarged pores. You may also find your foundation slides off more easily throughout the day than those who have dry or normal skin. Oily skin is also a trigger of blemishes and can be a sign of hormonal imbalance which will occur in teens and women during menopause.

Sensitive 

Sensitivity of the Epidermis can result in redness or patches that itch or burn after use of a product. I would advise to avoid heavily perfumed products as this will only irritate the skin even more. It’s also good to check the ingredients first and discover if you have any repeated allergies to a specific product you’re using.

Combination

A huge percentage of the population has combination skin and you may find yourself having similar symptoms of all skin types listed. Typically combination may leave your skin with an Oily T Zone (I.E shine on the Forehead, nose and chin) and you may be dry around the cheeks, although it will differ for everyone.

Normal

If you have normal skin, your skin will be neither too oily or dry and you won’t suffer from any major reactions to any skin products you use. Your texture will remain relatively smooth although you may still have pigmentation in areas due to blemishes or ageing.

So what skincare products do you use once you’ve assessed your skin type?

If you are a lover of thick, creamy moisturisers but you have oily skin then you’re not using a product that’s right for your skins needs. You need to be using products that counteract it, so you’ll need to swap that moisturiser for a thin, light one or even a serum if you’re a wiser woman.

I started taking care of my skin at a young age but for a long time I didn’t know what I should or shouldn’t be using based on my skin type. As I’ve gotten older, my skin has changed and it’s needs are different to when I was a teen. So, with that, I decided to compile a list of products I’ve tried and tested throughout the years that I would recommend to those that have differing skin types to inspire the search of your own! The best advice I would give is to get SAMPLES from the Brands and products you’re interested in and try, try, try.

Dry/Dehydrated

Oily

Sensitive 

Combination

Normal

You’ll notice some brands I have repeated and that’s because they’re honestly my skins beauty saviours that I couldn’t find an equivalent of that works as good.

So, go ahead and share some of your favourites with me or even ones you’ve felt didn’t work the way you wanted and why. Cause once you’ve investigated you can experiment…and that my friends, is pretty fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key Make-up Trends for Summer 16′.

Kimevamay / / 6,451 Comments 
I know, i know, it's only March and I'm already talking about Summer, but hey, it's my favourite season! 

Whether you attended any of the Fashion weeks this year or not, you will begin to start seeing repetitive make-up trends that will be popping up in fashion stores, magazines or in make-up departments as we're approaching Summer. And this summer, it better be bladdy hot or else I'm eloping to Barbados.  

Anyway, I thought I would whittle down some key make-up trends you'll start noticing as festival season is fast approaching. And this year, its a goodun. 

1. COLOUR POP. 

Colour Pop is all about channelling a statement bright eye or lip, whether it be rocking a vibrant fuchsia matte liquid lipstick and teaming it with a bold canary yellow eye, it's all about injecting some 80's magic onto the face. 

                                 Image source: Brit+Co



2. IMPERFECT SKIN.

Did I just say "imperfect"? Yes I did. You can all breathe a massive sigh of relief at the fact that the summer trends are all about representing the real. If you have freckles, don't hide or cover them up. In fact, this season people will be drawing them on! For this trend think of it as a back to school vibe, rocking those back-packs and hair plaits in tow. The warmer the weather, the more you will see people breaking away from their full coverage bottles of cover up and cracking open the tinted moisturisers and light weight foundations. Colour correctors are on it's way out, as were finally embracing our skin the way we should.                                   Image source: Allure


3. GLOSS. 

Gloss on eyelids, above cheekbones and lips, Summer 16' is all about the glowy sheen and wet look that leaves everyone pining for the beach. It's also the quickest, low maintenance way of multi-using a product in three different ways. With the Matte liquid lipsticks that everyone has been buying on repeat, you will see a new order of lipgloss throbbing it's way back onto the scene. 

                                   Image source: Vogue


4. BRUSHED BUSHY BROWS.

When Cara Delevingne stepped into the spotlight and onto that catwalk everyone wanted her brows. In fact, people would do almost anything to get them, resorting to brow implants just to rectify the brow plucking they had mastered in the 70's/80's when it was deemed cool to have little to none. 
But this year, the bush brow doesn't need to be perfect. Throw away your brow pencils and get to grips with your new best mate the brow gel. To create the 'brow bush', simply brush your brows with the gel or comb in sweeping directions to emulate a fluffy full brow look. 

                                  Image source: The Times

5. THINK PINK. 

You might not be girly and you may never have played with Barbies or think your related to a Unicorn but pink will be magically appearing into our wardrobes and on our faces. 
From pastels to bold tones, the shade pink will be festering around us like a growing giant blossom flower and we can't but help liking it. 

inspiration PINK EYES                                 Image source: TrendyMood

6. GLITTERATI.

THANK GOD for this emerging trend and cheers Lady Gaga for repping the glitter    theme for the Super Bowl in America this year.
Glitter is causing a big scene this coming season and you'll see it scattered over the lids, used as a liner and a big favourite of mine, the glitter lips. Team this with the gloss trend and you're onto a festival winner.

                                   Image source: Elle


7. GRAPHIC LINER.

Wing liner has been 'winging' it's way onto people's eyes from the mid noughties and has been a firm favourite look for many. But this season it's not just about the standard "cat flick" anymore. You'll be seeing a lot of bold choices taking place with the liner this coming year, from feline cat eyes, geometric shaping, double wings, liner used above the crease to create a modern 60s twist, as well as liner dots, extended bottom lashes, hearts and animated stars (think Kat Von D/ Marina and the Diamonds). 

                                   Image source: Vogue 

But the most fun thing about these trends is that it allows you to EXPLORE and make a  bitof a creative mess with these looks. Anything goes. Literally. 

So go get creating and share your make-up looks with me for the summer either on here or my Instagram!