Eye Makeup Remover Review

This post is essentially a quick-and-dirty review of all the eye makeup removers that I have used and repurchased and thrown out and even one I keep on my nightstand because it looks nice (even if it's completely useless)...

Recommended Makeup Removers

All makeup removers are not created equal.  Cleansers are not necessarily makeup removers.  There are many types of makeup and many types of makeup remover.

Read on to discover which types are used for which purpose, how to use them, and my own reviews and recommendations...

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer Review

I picked up this little gem out of curiosity;  I usually use MAC, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, Chanel, Tarte, YSL and ByTerry concealers.  This one, however is garnering use and praise from people like Lisa Eldridge, the Pixiwoo sisters, and when that happens, I pay attention.

I have been trialling it every day for the last week on top of various different formulation and finish foundations (Illamasqua Skin Base; MAC Face & Body; Chanel Perfection Lumière;  a random BB cream I got from Korea).

Inexpensive / Drugstore Recommended Products

I'm frequently asked to recommend less expensive, or drugstore branded products.  Here is a quick-and-dirty list of some that I have used and would use on myself (although not necessarily on a client*)...

Recommended Products & Brushes for Brides

Bridal Makeup is becoming a bit of a minefield.  I know a lot of makeup artists who do bridal makeup as their "bread and butter" work, but it's hard work; there is at least one and sometimes five or six faces;  there can be large cross-section of ages (if you're doing mother of the bride/groom as well as bride and bridesmaids) and skin types;  all of the makeup needs to be "perfect";  all of the makeup needs to be done to tight time-restrictions;  all of the makeup needs to last from early in the morning until late in the evening;  all of the makeup needs to look good in daytime light, indoors and night-time...

For those makeup artists starting out, or for those brides planning on doing their own makeup on the day, here are the products I use and recommend, and the tools that you need to apply them.

Note for Brides
This is for a standard, polished, "your skin but better", neutral, "clean" bridal look;  in other words, the most popular look chosen by brides the world over.  The reason that most brides pick this look is because they want to look like themselves on their wedding day, and they don't want to buy into trend makeup that will date in photographs.  Read on if you're interested in creating this look, for hints and tips on products and tools, and for some information on how to amp it up if you want to go a little madder!

Budge-proof makeup! How to make it last...

If you want your makeup to last, there are a lot of tips and tricks to use.

Obviously, doing all of these would be highly time-consuming, so it's likely that you're only going to use these techniques for an all-day event; like makeup for a wedding you're attending, or a day at the races, anywhere you need to put on your face and not think about it for the day.  It's not really standard work/day makeup - using all of these products and all of these techniques all of the time would overload your skin and take forever!

That said, read on, and take on board at least some of these tips to help guarantee a budge-proof, smudge-proof face for those rare occasions you really need it!

Selecting Concealers

This is a very quick post to help you select a concealer for some basic skin conditions, and in particular an in-depth discussion of under-eye concealer and corrector for your skin tone.

While it's impossible to be 100% absolute, given variations in shades and undertones of the skin, and of any "problem" area to be camouflaged, this is nonetheless a good starting point.

To start with, please also reference here for more information on concealers and correctors (and here for MAC-specific information).

For the purpose of this post, it's assumed that you have fair-medium skin.

How to: Select Foundation for your Skin Tone

A lot of people get quite confused when selecting a foundation, and it's the one area of makeup (along with concealer selection, more on that in this post) that many find daunting.  Approaching a makeup counter can be intimidating, if you don't know what you're looking for.  If you can figure, however, simply (a) what it is you want and (b) what it is the SA is talking about, the confusion disappears and you will never again waste money on purchasing a foundation that you wind up not using!

Recommended Makeup Brands - Other Products

The last part of a series of five posts on recommended items (as requested by Makeup Bootclass students).  See here for the first in the series.  This post covers the remaining fun bits and pieces not covered elsewhere (but used in class) (ie glitters, finishing spray, lashes).

Recommended Makeup Brands - Lip Products

Part four of a series of five posts on recommended items (as requested by Makeup Bootclass students).  See here for the first in the series.  This post covers "lip" items (ie primer, lip pencils, lipstick, lipgloss, lip stains).

Recommended Makeup Brands - Eye Products

Part three of a series of five posts on recommended items (as requested by Makeup Bootclass students).  See here for the first in the series.  This post covers "eye" items (ie primer, powder and cream shadows, gel and pencil liners, mascara, brow products).

Recommended Makeup Brands - Face Products

Part two of a series of five posts on recommended items (as requested by Makeup Bootclass students).  See here for the first in the series.  This post covers "face" items (ie Bronzer, Contour, Blusher, Highlighter, Illuminator).

Recommended Makeup Brands - Base Products

In my makeup bootcamp classes, I'm asked a lot to suggest products, so here are my recommendations (both for expensive and cheaper brands) that I own, use personally and in class, for makeovers, on shoots... Note that (with a few exceptions) I'm mainly speaking of a brand product, rather than a specific shade.  This is the first post in a series of five, and covers "base" items (ie Primer, Foundation, Concealer, Powder).