Tag: Illamasqua

My Look Fantastic Black Friday Must Haves & Gift Guide

You’re probably sick of hearing about Black Friday already and if I’m honest, I couldn’t think of anything worse than heading to the high street and getting caught up in the manic bustle that is Black Friday…However I have come to realise that this can actually be the perfect time to pick up a few of those Christmas gifts that you may be after and on the beauty side of things, there are lots of great offers to be had. That being said, regardless of the occasion, you know I like any shopping I do to be well thought out and so I have put together a little bit of Christmas gift guide, featuring a round up of 5 Lookfantastic Black Friday offers, that could make great gifts for some of the special ladies in your life this Christmas…

For Mum

Eve Lom has got to be one of my top luxury skincare brands. I’ve already gushed over their cleanser here on my blog in the past and now I’m excited to introduce these new masks into my routine. I say ‘into my routine’, more like ‘into my special occasion skincare routine’, because I must admit these are on the higher end of the price spectrum. However, if you’re someone/or know someone who loves to indulge in luxury skincare, then this could be just the perfect time to nab the Eve Lom White Brightening Mask on a Black Friday offer. I used my first one in preparation for a shoot the night before, and aide from finding the look of the sheet mask hilarious on first application (just google it if you don’t know what I mean), I actually loved how soft, supple and fresh it left my skin. I see this one being a great gift for the Mother or any special lady in your life who deserves an extra special pamper.

For Sis

You should already know/have guessed by now that I love skincare products and anything that can aid with helping/maintaining good skin, I’m all for. So it’s no surprise that I’m super excited about this little gadget, the Foreo Luna Mini. It works as a great bacteria free way to cleanse the skin, whilst the tiny pulsating rubber touch points help to remove dirt and oil and keep pores clean. There are no batteries required as it comes with a wire to charge it up and it has a long life span due to the fact that it’s all rubber and it requires no replacements bristles or anything like that. If you have a sister who is into her skincare, or maybe just needs a convenient way to simplify her routine, then this could be a great one for her!

For the Bestie

Two brands that I love for makeup brushes and tools are Real Techniques and Look Good Feel Better. I think two of my most used makeup tools are probably a beauty sponge and a contour brush. I’ve used a LGFB Sculpting Sponge for quite some time and it’s so convenient because not only does the sponge itself help effortlessly blend foundation onto the skin, leaving it looking even and natural, but the shape is also great for using on different parts of the face. And this sponge isn’t a one trick pony because once my foundation is applied, I like to use the curved tip for applying concealer under my eyes and then the pointed end for applying liquid highlighter. It’s also super easy to clean and once it’s dry it simply bounces back to it’s usual shape…And then there’s the contour brush and this isn’t just any contour brush, because just look how beautiful it is! Not only the perfect gift because Real Techniques are actually renowned for their great quality brushes (I’ve owned several) but also because this may be the prettiest brush I’ve seen…and who doesn’t like practical and pretty!

For You

Let’s face it, after shopping for all the main ladies in your life, it would be rude to not treat yourself to a little something too!…Illamasqua has long been one of my favourite makeup brands. There’s not a single night out when at least one Illamasqua product doesn’t make it onto my face. They know how to do strong pigments and fierce colours…speaking of fierce colours, can we please take a moment of appreciation for the gorgeous red shade in this eyeshadow palette! I’ve actually been on the look out for a shade like this for some time and I should have known that Illamasqua would be the brand to do it. These eyeshadows are perfect for creating smokey eye looks and whether it’s for a friend, or just for yourself, it’s certainly a perfect party palette.

So there you have it, a round up of some of my favourite Black Friday Lookfantastic Christmas Gift ideas! And one last thing, you can get a huge 20% off some of the Black Friday promotions over on Lookfantastic, using the code: LFBLACK.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

November 25, 2016
My Three Favourite Foundations

For many years I struggled to find the perfect foundation. From too pale, to too dark, to not the right consistency, I’ve tried so many foundations in the past. Luckily now, since my knowledge of makeup has widened and finally many more brands now cater for a wider range of skin tones, I’ve been able to find not just one but several foundations that I actually find work great for me and these are my three personal favorites.

M.A.C Face and Body Foundation in shade C4:
It has a lightweight dewy consistency that’s great for when you want a light coverage. It’s also easy to build up or mix with other shades.

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in shade 12:
It has an excellent coverage, ideal for when you want to cover blemishes and it’s my personal favourite for special occasions/nights out.

Bobbi Brown BB Crème SPF 35 in shade Natural:
It’s great for when you’re spending your day outdoors as it contains SPF 35 to help protect your skin from the sun. It has a matte consistency, so it won’t leave you feeling or looking too shiny.

Watch my short video to find out more about why I like each foundation and when I use them.

What’s your favourite foundation or coverage for your skin?

Samio x

Check out my previous posts:
Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation
Bobbi Brown BB Cream and Corrector for Dark Circles

September 15, 2015
Friday’s Face

Today’s makeup look is a little more glam and ready for the weekend. It’s been a while since I used my Naked 2 palette, so today I felt the urge to use it. I’ve gone for a subtle smokey bronzed eye with a classic winged liner and for my base I’ve used a mix of MAC’s Face and Body with Illamasqua Skin Base, to create the perfect blend. The rest is listed below…

Products used:

MAC Face and Body Foundation in shade C4

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in shade 12

Boddi Brown Corrector in shade light to medium peach

Urban Decay Naked Concealer in shade medium neutral

Sleek Brow Kit in shade extra dark

Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette

Primark Liquid Eye Liner

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

Revolution Makeup Shade, Ready to Go

Sleek Contour Kit in shade medium

Boots Natural Collection Loose Face Powder in shade neutral translucent

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in nude

Have a fabulous Friday!

Samio x

June 5, 2015
Illamasqua Multi Facet Palette Review

As much as I said I wasn’t going to shop in the sales, some things are just destined to make me fail. Like the Illamasqua sale for example. I’d noticed this delightful shiny Illamasqua Multi Facet Palette when it had first gone into the sale at £22 (if I remember correctly) down from £45. A whole week went by without me making the online purchase of this incredibly tempting item, until a few days ago when the price went down in the sale even further, to £13.50! So I have to admit, this time I didn’t even hesitate. Will power had gone out of the window and this gorgeous little palette had arrived before I knew it.

I have to say though, that this Multi Facet Palette certainly did not disappoint and I definitely got a bargain with this one…
Okay, so what’s inside. Well, the product contains eight different palettes including,a highlighter, blush, contour cream, three eye shadows, a solid brow powder and solid powder eye liner. Not forgetting the double ended brush that comes with it too.

I went for the palette in Semblance. I was a little worried at first that maybe the brow powder might be a little too pale for my eyebrows but it turned out to be the perfect match!

The highlighter is creamy and is really easy to apply. I used it to highlight my cheeks and below my brow. It’s nice and subtle too, so it gives a great shimmery glow without being to shiny and dramatic. So it’s definitely a good one if you’re a first timer at trying out a highlighter.

The eye shadows come in three gorgeous colours. The shimmery nude for the base, the pink for the lid and a pretty bronzed brown sort of colour which I used to define around the eye socket area. The three colours blended onto the eye together look splendid.

The blush is so vibrant, I love it. It’s a really nice shade of pink and it’s easy to blend in to give a nice rosy tint to your cheeks.

The eye liner was probably the product in the palette that I was unsure about as it is a powder and I’m used to using pencil or liquid eye liners. Anyway, I decided to give it a go and I can’t believe how much I loved it. It’s actually really easy to apply and using the angle edged end of the brush that comes in the palette, you can create a great slick line and flick.

The only thing in the palette that isn’t quite right for me is the contour cream as it’s not right for my skin tone. I gave it a go none the less and I’m wearing all of the products in the palette in the images below.

My foundation is also Illamasqua. If you’d like to find out more about that one you can read the review I previously did on that here. Also my lipstick is shade Growl from Illamasaqua, it’s one I’ve had for a while but I think that one is currently in the sale at the moment too.

Overall I’m absolutely delighted with this palette. It’s actually so handy and the large mirror that sits in the inside lid of the palette stands up itself so that you can place it down anywhere and do your makeup. It’s such a perfect travel size palette and I only wish I had had it last weekend when I went to stay in Liverpool for a night out with my best girlfriends. It would have saved me bringing a few different products that’s for sure.

I give this palette a big thumbs up and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a travel sized multi purpose makeup palette. But I’d say to be quick if you are wanting to purchase this one as it is limited edition and apparently the sale ends on Monday! You can shop the Illamasqua sale and their other products at Illamasqua online.

Samio x

January 30, 2015
Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

If you’re looking for a foundation with great coverage that will leave your skin looking flawless then look no further. Illamasqua Skin Base foundation does just the job.

I first discovered Skin Base when on a modelling job. The first time a makeup artist used it on my skin, I had to find out what it was. Never had a foundation left my skin looking so flawless. I excitedly purchased my first bottle and so my love affair with Illamasqua makeup began. That was a couple of years ago now and Skin Base has been one of my trusty go to foundations ever since. In fact the price has gone up since I started using it, so it shows it must be popular but still, even the inflation couldn’t deter me from this must have beauty buy!

This is the part where I have to state that Skin Base isn’t my everyday foundation. In fact most days I opt for minimum to no foundation on the skin. Because of this, I can’t claim to know what Skin Base is like on the skin after continual everyday use, as like I said the coverage is very good and therefore it is quite thick so everyday usage might not be the best for the skin, but then again I personally wouldn’t recommend using any foundation every day anyway. I do think this foundation is great for special occasions when you want that flawless look (I personally use it as my night out makeup), and if well blended it can also work well as a cover up over blemishes on the skin.

There are also times when I don’t use Skinbase all over the face but instead mix it with one of my paler concealers to create the perfect tone to then lightly apply around the eyes. I find this creates the perfect concealer for me on days when I want minimal makeup but still want to brighten up the area around my eyes.

My skin type is normal to oily and this foundation sits well on my skin. On days when my skin is feeling slightly dryer, it helps to use a more oily moisturiser before applying this foundation or using a primer first to prep the skin.

How long does it last?

Skin Base has great longevity, both on the skin and in the bottle. Like I said, this is my go to night out foundation and even though I like to party hard, this stuff stays put even after dancing the night away. Also as I don’t use this foundation everyday it lasts me ages so I often have bottles for months at a time and it never seems to dry up or go bag inside the bottle.

What shade do you use?

I use Skin Base shade 12. This is the closest match to my skin, although it is slightly more orange than my skin tone so I do have to be careful when applying it. At the moment I have a tan so for now it suits my skin tone quite perfectly.

How much does it cost?

£32 for 30ml

Where can I buy it?

You can buy it online at Illamasqua online (postage is free to UK customers) or if you go in store to either Selfridges or Debenhams, their makeup artists there can help you find the shade to match your skin tone.

I give this product a huge thumbs up and would definitely recommend it to those who are looking for a good coverage with their foundation.

Samio x

October 2, 2014
Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss – Succubus

This is a lipgloss I’ve had for a while and as I keep getting questions on my lip colours I thought I’d gradually begin doing posts on some of my favourites, starting with this Intense Lipgloss from Illamasqua.

This isn’t a lipgloss I wear often, as I’m more of a matte lady myself, however when I really want a show stopper, this is the lip paint I pull out of the bag, Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in shade Succubus. It glides on easily (although I would recommend a liner first if you don’t have a steady hand) and just like the label says, it’s an intense shade so it comes out as vibrant as it looks.

A downside of this product (as with most glosses) is the dreaded bleeding lip line. I’m not referring to actual blood but the fact that this is certainly not smudge proof, so it can be quite a high maintenance one to wear. Regardless of the necessary routinely mirror checks, I love this gloss and like all Illamasqua lipglosses it smells good enough to eat too (but of course don’t do that).

You can see how vibrant this lipgloss comes out as in the images I’ve taken below, Succubus is the only thing I have on my lips.

Keep it bold and keep it glossy…

Samio x

September 19, 2014
Festive Christmas Day Makeup Tutorial

I’ve said it about ten times already but I’m feeling super festive! I always love getting into the Christmas spirit but this year I feel even more Christmassy than ever.

The run up to Christmas Day seems to have gone so fast that I’ve barely had time to do any proper planning. Luckily though, all my presents are purchased, the fridge is full and now I just have two more restless sleeps until I can have my much anticipated Gothic Christmas! Yes that’s right, our family is doing a themed Christmas this year and I can’t wait.

I came up with the idea of a themed Christmas last month when I was in a period of loving black. I just loved the idea of having an Adams Family/The Munsters style family Christmas Dinner. I was surprised to hear my family were well up for the idea and even ended up planned and purchasing outfits before I did! I even spent a large chunk of last night making a luxurious Vampire cape for my boyfriend, which turned out quite fabulous I must say.

With everyone else sorted I’d almost forgot to pick out an outfit for myself. Luckily, with me owning an array of ‘Gothic attire’, I was able to pull something out of my wardrobe last minute. Strangely enough the planning of a Gothic Christmas has made me feel more festive than ever and I am more than giddy for Christmas Day.

Anyway, despite the fact that I’m getting ready to release my inner Goth, as it’s Christmas Eve, Eve, I thought I’d do a Christmas Day makeup blog post. So for those of you who are looking for some festive makeup inspiration and won’t be going for smokey eyes and dark lips like me, then maybe this step by step tutorial can come in handy for you.

The Eyes

Step 1:
Prep the eyelids with your regular foundation and fill in your eyebrows as usual.
With a light shimmer, go over the lid of your eye. Here I’ve used Front Cover’s eye shadow shade, Biscuit.

Step 2:
Using a light shimmery brown eye shadow, shadow in just above the eyelid crease and then blend. I used shade Hazel from Front Cover’s Rainbow Eyes Pallet.

Step 3:
Draw on some winged liner using a black eyeliner pencil.

Step 4:
Using a glitter gel liner, draw a winged line above the black pencil line.
For this I used Collection’s Glam Crystal Dazzling Gel Liner in Funk, which is a gold shade.

Step 5:
Once the gold glitter liner has dried, go over the black pencil eyeliner with a black liquid eyeliner in order to create a more solid line. (Go over the glitter eyeliner again afterwards if needed)
Apply black mascara to the top lashes only.

Step 6:
Using a gold eyeliner pencil, liner the bottom of your eye. I used Model’s Own Golden Girl Glitter Eye Pencil.

Step 7:
Add black mascara to your bottom lashes for the end result.

The Lips

Step 1:
Lightly liner the lips using a brown to light brown to nude lip liner pencil, depending on your skin tone. For this I used a pencil in shade Cinnamon from Boots Natural Collection.

Step 2:
Again, finding a shade to suit your skin tone, fill the lips in with a nude to brown shade of lipstick. I used NYC’s Expert Lip Last in shade, Creamy Caramel 440.

Step 3:
Appling to the centre of the lips, add some gold shimmery lip gloss and carefully pat outwards with your finger to blend. The perfect gloss to use for this effect is Illamasqua’s Intense Lipgloss in shade, Stranger, as used here.

The Finished Look

A great variation to this look is to use a different colour glitter eyeliner. Here I’ve used Collection’s Glam Crystals Dazzling Gel Eyeliner in Pizzazz, which is a super festive green shade.

Samio x

December 23, 2013