Portfolio Preview

Bit of a different post today guys and girls. As you may know I am nearly at the end of my training to be a fully qualified MUA. To prepare me for leaving college and finding work I have begun building my portfolio ready for the day I need it! 

I thought it would be nice to show you some of the work I have done over the past few weeks and some of the first images that will enter my portfolio! As a make-up artist I will be constantly taking images out and replacing them with new and improved shots but as these are my first ever pictures I think they will forever hold a place in my heart :P 

Working on my own on a photo shoot was kind of daunting at first but I soon got into it chatting away to the stunning models and I feel my confidence has grown so much from doing this already!

I hope you like these and you don't mind the different kind of post today, a nice change I hope! 

Boots Haul

I'm sure you know how this all goes, you go into Boots for one thing and end up walking out with things you don't need/had no intention of buying! Boots had their 3 for 2 offer again on all make-up products and whenever this deal is on I can't seem to refuse! It's a perfect time to stock up on all your essentials and trying out new products without breaking the bank.

Revlon Colorstay Combination/Oily Skin

This a re-found love of mine. This used to be my number 1 foundation around a year ago and like many other products it gets forgotten about after time. I have fallen in love with this foundation all over again. It provides medium coverage which is easily buildable to full and leaves a matte finish so probably isn't great if you like the natural dewy finish, but for someone with oily skin like me its fab! I picked up two shades - Natural Tan and Buff. Natural tan is my perfect fake tan colour. I also picked up Buff which is a pale yellow toned shade. I find it hard to find a yellow undertoned pale shade and this is just perfect! Whenever I'm less tanned and Natural Tan is too dark for me I mix it with Buff and it creates the perfect shade! 

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner - Intense Black

I had run out the eyeliner I had been using which come free in a Birchbox I received, unfortunately for me it was not so easily available to buy in the UK and I was desperate for a new one. Again like the Colorstay I used to use this around a year ago so thought would give it another go! It is a super jet black eyeliner (unlike some which can be grey.) It is also VERY creamy and glides onto the lid easily without pulling! I apply this with the MAC 210 brush. Also it is long lasting and won't move throughout the day at all! Even on my oily eyelids!

NYX Jumbo Pencil - Peacock

Now this isn't from Boots but I had a photo-shoot coming up with a beautiful model who had turquoise hair! The photographer had an amazing idea to do the lips the same colour as the models hair. Now as you can imagine, not even make-up artists carry a turquoise shade in their kit. I had to get my hands on a shade like this pretty quick so decided to check out NYX as they have recently set up a stall in my local Next! I managed to pick up this Jumbo Eye Pencil in Peacock and thought it would be perfect. Now unfortunately we didn't end up using this on the shoot so I'm not really sure how much use it's going to get from now. But it is an amazing shade!

MINI MAC HAUL

Everyone loves a MAC haul, I'm a sucker for reading these type of posts and looking for new things to buy so I hope you enjoy my little haul as it made me very happy :P

MAC PRO LONGWEAR CONCEALER

As you may of seen in my Top 5 MAC Products post this is my holy grail concealer. I use this as a highlighter in the usual area's such as under the eyes etc. I use NC15 which is a  pale yellow toned shade which is fab for highlighting! I ran out of this last week and was beside myself with what to use in place of this so I am very happy to have this back!

MAC SELECT COVER UP

This concealer is a newbie for me. I have seen quite a few of the MAC girls I follow on twitter raving about this and using as their highlighter in the same way as I currently do with my pro-longwear. I decided to get NW15 in this as I wanted a colour that would correct my dark circles and this being pink based will do that perfectly! I am yet to try this but when I swatched it, it was lovely and creamy! Review coming soon I'm sure!

MAC MINERALIZE SKIN FINISH NATURAL

Again as per my previous Top 5 Mac Products post this is another holy grail for me. Sadly after writing that post I actually LOST my MSF and it was a heartbreaking day for me for sure! I was straight onto MAC to order another one as I feel if I don't set my highlight with a lighter powder it eventually just fades to the colour of my foundation! Not the look we want! If you don't have this - you need it.



Have you had any exciting make-up discoveries lately? I would love to hear! 

COLLECTION LASTING PERFECTION CONCEALER

Just a quick heads up post today girlies. The most hyped about product EVER in the blogging and YouTube world is currently on offer in Wilkinsons for £2.10! Bargain! That's about half the price of what it currently is in Boots! 

There was a bit of confusion in the bbloggers world that this was being dis-continued (which would of been the craziest thing ever for Collection to do.) I was a bit confused too as in Wilkinson's it says 'Last Chance To Buy' but do not fear Collection have announced that this product is not going anywhere! 

So go stock up whilst you can for this bargain price! I'm going to get about 10 :P

MY TOP 5 MAC PRODUCTS!

MAC fills up the majority of my Pro Make-up kit along with Illamasqua (post to come). I really do think they make beautiful products and 99% of make-up artists will have a LOT of MAC in their kit. If your new to make-up or don't want to splurge on their products without wasting your money and hating the product then hopefully this post will help you choose what to buy and not end up regretting it!

1. MAC PRO LONGWEAR CONCEALER

This is my number 1 holy grail product. I could not live without this! Sounds a bit much but it's true. Since the day I bought this it has been my only concealer I have used underneath my eyes and for my highlight and concealing. This product, as it is a pro-longwear does last all day without going cakey or patchy! I use NC15 at the moment which is about 2-3 shades lighter than my skin-tone so is perfect for highlighting all areas of your face. I am going to be getting a few more shades of this for my kit and it lasts forever!

2. MAC MINERALIZE SKIN FINISH NATURAL

This is a setting powder used for setting your foundation and getting rid of that foundation shine!  Mineralize skin finish's come in a variety of shades to suit all skin tones. What I love about this product is the fact that it is so low coverage it  doesn't 'mask' your foundation and add another layer to your make-up. It let's your foundation show through beautifully whilst keeping you matte but not too matte. This is also amazing for touching up your make-up if you get super oily and it doesn't go cakey on the skin at all which I know a lot of powders do! I'm guessing this is due to the fact the product is baked unlike other powders! I currently use the shade Light in all areas that I highlight my face and I have recently started using Medium Deep to contour my face and it's truly the perfect shade! I plan to have every shade soon and pray MAC never discontinue this product!

3. MAC PAINTPOT'S

MAC paintpot's make the best bases when you are doing any look that involves eyeshadow. Painterly is my most used as it is the perfect natural skin tone shade but will cancel out any pigmentation you have on your eyes and give you an even base to work on. It will also act as a primer and give your eyeshadows that extra staying power. Their paintpot in Blackground is also perfect for when your doing an all black smokey eye but want that extra last without your eyeshadow creasing! Remember to always put the lids back on these products though as they dry out very easily and basically become useless afterwards.

4. MAC LIPSTICKS

You  can't go wrong with MAC lipsticks. They do a huge range (probably the biggest on the market) in a range of finish's to suit everyone! Everyone is going to be different and prefer all different types so the best way is to give them a try in store. They usually always have alcohol to the side of the stand to sterilise so you can dip them in and apply onto your lips rather than just your hand! Rebel, Angel, Kinda Sexy and Myth are a few of my favs ;)

5. MAC LASHES

In my opinion MAC lashes are not raved about enough. Probably due to their price point. £10 is a hell of a lot for a pair of falsies, but in my opinion they are completely worth it! If you know how to take care of your falsies you will be able to re-use there 5-6 times! Some pairs I have got over 10 wears out of! They do a huge range to suit all eye shapes but the MAC 35 Lashes are a personal fave and suit all eye shapes! As their lashes don't come with glue I picked up the DUO lash glue off Ebay and it's the best glue ever!


I hope this post helps! If you have any recommendations you think I should try please do let me know, I don't need an excuse to buy more make-up!