Make-up Storage - Before and After

Hey Everyone,

If you've read my earlier blogs you'll know that i recently moved in with my boyfriend and so i didn't have much time to really organise things as it was around christmas and things were hectic. I took to sorting out my make up the other day.

Here's the before pictures:

Everything was so cluttered, i had some stuff in the bathroom and some stuff in the bedroom which was a nightmare. Whilst i was clearing out i dropped my eyebrow shadow =( so long friend you'll be missed.

Here's after:

There are some drawers behind that hold my pencil eyeliners and lipglosses, ontop of there is my brushes and my mac brush cleaner. I then have another acrylic stand that holds things that i use daily, so mascara, primers, foundation etc. Underneath there are my drawers which hold one drawer for eyes and the other for blushes and concealers.
The top drawer of the stack is now filled with eye pallets and finishing powders/highlighters. Having it all together like this makes everything so accessible, it's now much quicker to get ready on a morning.

whilst i was at it i tidied the shower caddy:

A tidy house is an uncluttered mind =)

night lovlies

xxx

Monthly Motivations: Dance like no-one is watching

Hey,

Hope you've all had a lovely Valentines day. After i did my mindfulness post i wanted to make it a monthly thing and post positives to remind you lovely people how fab you all are.

As usual there was something that triggered off my thinking and gave me the inspiration for my post.

The inspiration came from my exercise class last Monday. We were doing Circuits, we had 3 stations, at every station there were 4 exercises to do, all stations targeted a different area i.e. legs/cardio etc. In my Monday class there is a down syndrome girl that comes with her mum. She's lovely and always has a big smile on her face. This class we were put into three groups at a certain station, once all 4 exercises were done we'd swap round. This girl was put in my group. So we were exercising away and i looked to my left and saw that whenever we went left she went right, whenever we jumped up she'd follow after, when we'd finish with a clap she'd clap seconds after. We carried on and by the time we had moved twice and were on our third station a couple of the other women started to say "look, left...right...left....right.." and it hit me!

It is drilled into us to conform. To wear the right thing, to behave a certain way, for your blogs to have a certain look and to exercise in the same direction. Why did it bother people so much that she was going in the opposite direction??? She wasn't bumping into anyone, she wasn't injuring herself and most of all she was having fun! Who are we to say that she was wrong? Trying to guide her in the right direction...when actually what she was doing was right just not the same way we were.

No-one who was truly amazing was a sheep. The greatest people out there break the mould, take a risk and embrace that they are different. If we all conformed there would be no new music genres, no fashion differences, no science breakthroughs. Look at Lady Gaga - absolutely her own person and we worship her for it, why? Because she does it with confidence, she is very much - this is me. I say it on my blog alot that i don't post the same things as everyone else, i will put photos of me with no make -up on, i will take photos when i havn't spend 3 hours getting camera ready and to me thats ok...because my followers will be for me, not because i fitted in with everyone else. Remember to do that for you, you may be the latest breakthrough.

Think of things like on Friends where Phoebe goes running with Rachel -
Or on Morcombe and Wise where he plays the piano and says "i'm playing all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order"


Enjoy life....do the things that make you happy =)

Love to you all

Tiz xx

My nightime Skincare routine...

As a beautician i have a very thorough skincare routine. Yes i split my week into different skincare options to make sure i get everything in. So here is my Sunday, Wednesday and Friday routine. 

I want to keep this blog real, and although i love seeing peoples make up and photos taken once we have spent a good amount of time getting ready, i also want people to know that we're all human, we do have skin without make up and that it's ok to post on here without it being 'perfect' so.....Here's me at the end of the day. I'd not slept very well, Shiny skin, in my pjs and hair scraped back.

I am currently using up the last of my Clarins, One step facial cleanser. This is a bi-phase product meaning its part water part oil. I am currently out of my eye make-up remover so using this gets all my eye make up off whilst acting as an all over skin cleanser. It's a nice product if you have normal-dry skin but as i have an oily skin i wouldn't purchase it. I use it on a night so that i could finish the bottle. This removes make-up really well. Just shake it to wake it and apply to a cotton pad and sweep all over the face. Perfect for people who don't have alot of time or people who struggle to remember have a skincare routine as it's quick and does both eyes and skin. 

Next i sweep Clarins Gentle Exfoliator on a cotton pad around my face. This acts like a second cleanse too. This is a chemical exfoliator which means there are no grainy bits in it but simply either certain acids or fruit enzymes that munch away at dead skin (imagine pac man on your skin) This is perfect for people with sensitive skins, rosacea or broken capillaries as you're not scrubbing away at the skins surface. I use it as i get dull skin very easily. Simply leave on and continue with your routine. 

I then tone with my Decleor Essential Tonifying Lotion. This product is beautiful. It smells amazing and really makes my skin feel lovely and soft. You can either apply by using your hands or a cotton pad then simply blot dry with a tissue. 

I use this eye gel morning and night. It is Clarins Eye Contour Gel. The gel is the lightest formula as they also do it in a balm. My biggest problem is bags and dark circles under my eyes as i don't sleep very well. This is really soothing and dries really quickly which is perfect in a morning when im wanting to apply make up straight after. 

If you can see the tiny amount i have on my ring finger. You only need a grain of rice size per eye. Too much eye cream can cause bags. Apply to the bones, so below your eye on the orbital bone, and on your eyebrow. Gently pat the product in. Dont rub onto your eyelids or close to the eye underneath, eye products migrate to where it's needed. 

I finish off by using my Decleor Balm Esential neroli. This product is AMAZING! i used to hate the night balms as i have such an oily skin and the texture felt too heavy for me, but i used it for a week religiously and i am now hooked. There are balms for all skin types including oily. They work by drip feeding the skin all night with the ingredients within them. Decleor is aromatherapy so the skin really sucks them in. You wake up and your skin feels amazing. The balm essential is also fab for when i have break outs as it really heals them, if you have ingrowing hairs it helps to bring them out and when i have an allergic reaction to my threading it takes it away in two days. Everyone needs a balm essential in their bathroom cabinet!

The balm is solid in the jar so use your spatula (it comes in the packaging) to scoop out the amount you need. I used my fingers. The amount on my hand did my whole face and neck. Once you have the amount in your hand rub your hands together and it melts the waxes within the balm, it goes into a beautiful silky texture that i then apply everywhere but my eye area. It does leave a residue on the skins surface so make sure you're not sleeping on silk sheets on anything that oil may transfer onto. It's pure luxury for the skin and you notice a difference in your skin just after one application.



So there's my nightime routine for those three days. I don't change my routine massively on the other days but i do things differently. I shall do a post on those soon. I hope you found this interesting.

Number of products: 5
Time to do: 5 minutes
Times a week: 3

Clarins One Step Cleanser: http://www.clarins.co.uk/one-step-facial-cleanser-with-orange-extract/0005510.html

Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Toner: http://www.clarins.co.uk/gentle-exfoliator-brightening-toner/C010201008.html?start=1

Decleor Essential Tonifying Lotion: http://www.decleor.co.uk/products/aroma-cleanse-essential-tonifying-lotion

Clarins Eye Contour Gel: http://www.clarins.co.uk/eye-contour-gel/C010301011.html?start=1

Decleor Neroli Balm Essential: http://www.decleor.co.uk/products/aromessence-neroli-night-balm


***Nothing in this post in sponsored. All the products i have featured in this blog have either been purchased by myself or i received them on training with the company or through commission schemes. All opinions are my own too. 

Mythbusters part II - Your beauty questions answered

Hey Lovelies,


So i'm bringing you part II of the Mythbusters series and today we're going to concentrate on body products and knowledge. So lets get going.....


If I exfoliate it will bring my false tan off?

TRUE & FALSE: When you have a false tan whether it be done at home or in a salon the best way to keep it looking nice it to maintain it. So yes unfortunately that does mean that after the tan is applied you're going to have to look after it. Your skin naturally sheds at different stages which means if you leave you tan to naturally come off you may find it goes patchy. If you regularly exfoliate - this doesn't have to be vigorous exfoliation just as long as you're getting the top layer of dead skin off, your skin will fall off more evenly keeping your tan more even for longer. Another way to hold onto your tan better is to moisturise regularly too. By doing these two things you actually keep the tan for longer. 

I should shave/wax before putting on tan?

FALSE: You should always do any prep for a tan i.e. shaving at least 24 hours prior. When you shave or wax you open up the pores and the hair follicles, if you then apply tan you can run the risk of the tan getting into the pore/follicle and when these then close it traps the tan inside leaving lots of brown little dots on the skin. Not the desired look. Also waxing and shaving stimulate the skin, if you then apply a high chemical product such as tan you can cause allergic reactions within the skin. 

My body isn't dry, i should still moisturise?

TRUE: Prevention is better than the cure, whether you are dry, oily or normal on your face or body you should always moisturise. The more you do it the better but at least aim for 3 times a week to try and keep the moisture levels high in your skin. The skin on our bodies goes through a lot such as hands in and out of water, feet in different shoes or no shoes at all, arms in and out of cold weather and warm clothing. Really make sure you concentrate on particularly dry areas such as knees, elbows, feet and hands. 

I have cellulite there's no cure?

FALSE: There are different grades of cellulite from the odd bump here and there to a leg full of orange peel. Once it gets to a grade 4 it's hard to treat but there are some cures. Cellulite is fat cells that get trapped between sub-cutaneous skin cells (top surface skin cells) this then create the bumpy effect that we know of as 'cellulite'. The best way to get rid of cellulite is to detox, so increase your water intake to 2-3 litres a day and cut right back on all sugars, salt and high fat. If the cellulite is a low grade exercises can help. By toning the area you move the fat along. A great way is dry brushing the area and vigorously rubbing in special anti cellulite treatments into the area. The vigorous rubbing stimulates circulation and breaks down the fat deposits in the hope they'll be reabsorbed back into our system. You can completely get rid of cellulite but you have to work on diet, exercise and products. 

I wash regularly but i still have spots on my back, this is normal?

TRUE: You can be the cleanest person on this earth and still get spots. If you get them on you back (known as bacne) it tends to be a hormonal reason. Just make sure you're rinsing your shampoo from your body correctly to not leave any traces on the skin. That after exercise or a hot day you're showering thoroughly - try using a back brush to really clean the area, and drink more water to try and flush the skin. All these put aside it's perfectly normal and you're not doing anything wrong. The sun can help clear up acne but please use the proper SPF, if it really bothers you go to your GP and see if they can  provide you with any treatments. 


I shall be doing some specific mythbusters soon, such as one for nails, sun care etc please let me know if you want me to cover a specific topic. 

Much love

lizzie xxx

I HIT 50! Thank you...

Arrgghhhh.....i logged on to bloglovin today and found that i had hit 55 followers. Now i know people who have been on here a while and have thousands of followers or people who hit 800 in a month will think it's nothing much.....but on the other hand everyone who starts a blog will always be proud of their first 50 followers. It means alot to me that people are actually reading and following my blog. I am very new to htmls, layouts and making photography look as professional as possible but i really wanted to create a blog that was real, for real people that you could all relate to and i hope you continue my journey with me as i grow. 

Thank you so much! You make every second worth while.

Sending lots of love

Lizzie xx

How to fill your eyebrows - the 5 second quick way.

Hey Guys,

wow it's been a busy couple of weeks and February looks like my busiest month yet. Yesterday i was at a wedding fayre with my friend and saw an eyebrow stand. As a beautician this sparked interest instantly as i'm always looking around for the latest fad or gimmick on the market. Yes i'm not afraid to say it i'm normally stood watching, expression blank, thinking what a load of twoddle.

And so i worked my way to the front of the crowd, ready to judge and what i saw amazed me.

It's the latest thing in the eyebrow market and currently Vogues latest make up trend. It's called Cresty. It's an eyebrow powder and stencil that literally takes 5 seconds and you have perfect brows. Me and all my friends couldn't stop watching and i was very impressed. Here's how to use it.

 I got the charcoal kit as i like my brows a bit darker. You get the powder 2 brushes and 3 stencils. Thin, natural and thick.

This is my natural brow, i have no make up and no tint on them. As you can see i have some gaps in my natural shape.

Keep the top of the stencil flat and place the arch of the brow where you would like it. Then re-align the rest of the stencil so it fits as well as can be to the rest of your brow. (i'm using the natural stencil)

As you can see the majority of my brow is aligned with the stencil.

Get your colour (i dropped mine just as i was placing it down - how annoying) and the brush it comes with ready, while holding the stencil steady with your non dominant hand, rub back and forth over the stencil with the brush with your dominant hand until you get the coverage you desire.

This was my brow instantly after removing the stencil you can see the shape it gives. I then just touch up any other little bits i wish to with the slanted brush on the other end to get the full desired effect.


This is a fools proof way of doing brows if you aren't confident enough to free hand them. I like it because it's so quick on a morning rather than spending a good 5-7 minutes penciling them on and checking they're even. You can make them as natural or as dramatic as you like just by changing the amount of product you put on the brush.
I did have a video of me doing the brows but it wouldn't load - can anyone suggest to why that is?

I hope this helps anyone interested in how to quickly do brows, i shall also put up a step by step guide of how i free hand my brows for anyone who wants to know that.

Love to you all

Lizzie xx