Mumma Guru

Hello everyone!

I'm very sorry that I haven't written in a little while as things in life got a little tad bit hectic being the season to be jolly, in which I mean Christmas! But well here I am back online again!

 

I'm writing this post to just send out a little bit of loving for the end of 2012!

Well what an amazing year it has been!

Especially in general life and the beauty blogging world!

I'm looking forward to a fair few changes throughout the year, including a new look for the blog and heading out into the world! No more school, YAY!

 

I'm so excited for what 2013 has to bring for me!

I have an amazing other half, two adorable step-children and I'm starting my Diploma of Beauty therapy! Also you may see a few posts from me involving my life as a step-parent!

I can assure you that it is a hard task, but at the end of the day very rewarding!

 

So I would love to thank everyone that has followed me through 2012, and for all those that have just started their growth and understanding of beauty and only just logged onto my wonderful sancturary of beauty reviews.. Then I look forward to you enjoying my reviews and hearing some awesome comments from you all!!

 

Love you all loads, and just remember.. It's a new year, and a great time to get motivated and re-invent yourselves!

 

A few of you are probably reading this thinking, "What the hell?"

The first time I heard of a Pointed Foundation Brush I was the same.

The Pointed Foundation Brush is slightly different to the traditional Oval Foundation brush, as it is designed to get into skinnier areas, like the sides of the nose, and has an innovative tip which replicates the use of a finger to apply foundation. It allows for precise application of Cream, Liquid and Powder products.

As this type of brush can be difficult to find, one of the best ones I know of, is The Jemma Kidd Make-Up School, Pointed Foundation Brush. which is available at www.beautybay.com
Which is shown above in the middle.

But for those who are from America, The E.L.F Store has a cheap Pointed Foundation Brush.

**Some of the photo's are not of my own. Thank-you to all that I have taken photo's off of.

 

 

 

I was going to make my own version of this a little while ago, but decided to share a video by thebeautiful Kandee Johnson, whom is amazing at explaining everything there is to know about make-up. Lets just say she is amazing!

Everytime I do my make-up, I wear a bit of highlighter. It gives a glow to the face and gives off radiance and a healthy glow :)

 

The product that is use is:

 

 

So watch the video, and try it on yourself :) xxx

 



Questionaire's are an awesome way to find out more about the bloggers that you read about!

So I was more than happy to take part when I got tagged in this questionaire by fellow Beauty Blogger at Jessi In Wonderland Blog :)

So lets begin :)

 

How many hours a week do you spend planning/writing/uploading posts?

When I had originally started my blog, I was ALWAYS on it. When I was still at school I would always be searching new make-up online, and ordering new make-up. I did TAFE once a week, and my teacher and I would discuss it all, and new techniques. Now that I have moved out of home, my blogging has slowed down, and I haven't been paying as much attention. But I plan for that to change :)

 

Are you a spender or saver?

Haha well I'm a big spender. As soon as I have cash, I blow it. It's a bad habit that needs to stop. My boyfriend is getting pretty frustrated about it actually. Haha so my spending will be slowing down :) which is a shame as that means less make-up :(

 

When is it easiest for you to write your posts?

I'm generally really grumpy during the day, so my writing is no good during the day. So I will tend to take my photo's during the day when the light is best, and then write at night when I'm in more of a happy mood. Hence why most of my posts come up at around 10pm - 12pm.

 

What makes writing posts comfortable for you?

I'm not fussed about where I am when I'm writing. But now that I'm at my boyfriends, I love it when he cuddles me from behind as I'm writing. I love that fact that he supports me.

 

What is your worst make-up/hair habit?

Well I'm more inclined to natural looking make-up, so I get stuck in that criteria. Then when it comes to a client that wants something stronger and bolder, I find it a bit difficult and become overly frustrated. I'm not an overly creative person unless I'm in the mood to be.

 

What is the one quote you wish the world would live by?

Never judge. Everyone has the right to be creative. People should experiment, from clothes to make-up. Creativity is what inspires the world and makes it a more colourful place to live in. And just because someone's style is a certain way, doesn't make them a bad person. Also that models shouldn't be pressured to be skinny. I would love to see more plus size women on the cat walk. And by plus size, I mean size 18-22 :) Everyone is beautiful

 

How long do you spend getting ready everyday?

Not very long, as you don't need to be wearing make-up when working on cars with the boyfriend all day, and cooking etc. But if I am going out, I'll tend to take an hour or so, which includes a shower, and hair styling and make-up :)

 

What's your favorite post on your blog?

http://thebrainsofbeauty.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/shopping-day-on-behalf-of-my-birthday-xx.html

That's my fave post as it includes a photo of my baby's :) (my make-up brushes) I just adore them!

 

Who is a beauty blogger you think deserves more follower than he/she has?

The very girl who has tagged me to participate in this questionaire :) she is stunning, and has a great product knowledge. She always is finding more ways to get the best out of cheap and expensive products. And her blog set up and photo's are very interesting :)

 

What has been your favorite blogging moment?

My fave part was when my twitter account actually decided to work for once instead of being stupid and not loading on my browser! Also taking part in the TAFE Competition and taking out first place :)

 

Are you wearing jeans/skirt or pyjama bottoms right now?

Haha I wasn't expecting that question! Seriously just read that and giggled a bit. I'm actually in bed wearing my leggings. Leggings are soo comfy in my opinion :)

 

What are you most proud of in your life?

In all honesty, I'm only proud of two things in my life. My work being the first, as I have come so far in a year. And secondly my boyfriend. He is very passionate about cars, and he is progressing in life so well at the moment. He is such a beautiful person, and even though he can be cranky at times, he is still beautiful hearted. Whether I'm with him in the distant future of not, I still hope he has a happy and fulfilling future and gets everything that he deserves. :)

 

 

Finally, I'm tagging this beautiful babe to take part :) xx

Lipgloss Affairs



I took a look at an amazing course, and had a look around the facilities. It was fab.

Whilst there I took the chance to catch up with my last Make-Up Teacher, Stace. Knowing typical Stace, and being full of surprises, she had a little gift for me, since I placed first in a contest with TAFE. I love gifts :) x

I brought a cheap as eyelash curler from K-Mart as well!

I needed one so I hit it cheap! Isn't actually a bad eyelash curler for $8 :) xx 

I've had this lippy for about 5months now, I used it off and on as I don't tend to wear lipstick that often. The lipstick is roughly $16 from Priceline, and is a very smooth lipstick. It's very creamy and doesn't need a gloss with it, only a smudge of paw paw to keep it hydrated. The colour in this lipstick range is bright, and not dull. Although the lipstick did lose it's nice tip after one application.

I use this lipstick when I go out. I got this for $6 from Priceline a little while ago. The colours aren't that bright so they need to be paired with a lip liner and gloss. They have a very smooth application, and unlike most normal lipsticks, this one doesn't bleed in the skin. The colour does tend to wear of quickly so touch-ups are mandatory.

If you're looking for something cheap that it doesn't matter if it runs away on a night out with the girls. Then the Savvy By DB lippy is the way to go. But if you're looking for something that is still relatively cheap, but is of a nice colour, then Australis is definitely the winner!

It is essential for anyone whom wears make-up to have everything needed to get the perfect face from your kit. Some things are a MUST to carry all the time, and some products can just blow in and out of the kit, as you may not need to wear them. All of the following are in no particular order, as they are all needed just as must as each other! <3 Gosh I love make-up! x

Primer

I'm not the person to wear Primer as much, as I find you have to have a couple more touch-ups throughout the day, But for a good night out, this helps ensure that you look mint as in all the photo's you will be tagged in on Facebook the following Morning!

Primer is a base for Foundation. It's main ingredient is silicon (you can also get non-silicon Primer's) which helps to fill in all the lines of the face for a smoother look to your foundation/base.

Concealer and/or Foundation

Depending on your skin type and how many blemishes you have on your face, you may only need a concealer, or you may need both. Simply apply concealer where you need it, but if you need more coverage, apply a foundation from the nose blending outwards. Be sure to blend across the hairline and jawline as well. A recent post on the blog explains how to choose the right Foundation for your skin:

How to choose the right foundation for your skin.

Loose/Pressed Powder

Powders will help to set the foundation to the face and add a little more coverage to the face. It will remove excess oil from the face and give a smooth finish. Lightly dust over the face, paying further attention to area's prone to oiliness.

Highlighter

Highlighter is great for an everyday kit as it can help add radiance tot he face. either add a bit to your Foundation to give luminosity to the skin, or apply it to certain areas, light the the cheekbones to accentuate.

Brow Powder/Brow Kit

Brows are the key to good make-up. The frame the eye. Brown need maintenance, and sometime to get the best of your brow, you need to fill in or pluck. A kit like the one below, will have everything needed, like the Brow Powder, and Tweezers.

Mascara helps build a nice sexy eyelash on top of already curled lashes! Mascara will lengthen and define lashes. Be sure to research mascara wand shapes prior to purchase, to get one suited to the results you want/your eye shape.

Blush/Bronzer

Blush/Bronzer will add a bit of colour and life back into your face. During the day, try not to go over the top as a little will go a long way. Use sparingly, and build up the colour slowly to get the affect you want.

Lip Balm

Lip Balm is great for preventing dried and cracked lips. Ones with a slight tint will also add a little colour to the face. Opt for a clear if you are pairing with a Lip Stain or Lipstick.

Eye Palette's

Eye Palette's are great! They add colour to the eyes and can create thousands of different looks suited to thousands of different styles! Even if it's just to add a bit of colour into your life, to create a smoky eye for that hot date, or something light to wear to school.

Photo's Supplied from Priceline && BH Cosmetics x

Just because a person is a celebrity, doesn't mean that they automatically have great skin. They have all of the same problems as we do, and they have to treat their skin in all the same ways that we do.

One of the first steps into getting good skin care is to identify your skin type.

You will notice a fair bit of difference in your skin when you start to understand it further, as then you can also buy make-up suited to your skin, and your make-up will start to sit better, not be as shiny or dull, not look as dry or shiny. Understanding your skin, will improve everything. Kind of like understanding your best friend, so then you can help her/him.

The first thing to do is to study your skin in Artificial and Natural light. You need to look for things like dry skin, pores, breakouts, and redness. Make a note of where these are so it’s easier to figure out your skin type.

Normal Skin

It’s okay if you have little to none of these things. It just means that you may have normal skin. Normal skin tends to have an even skin tone, rarely or never suffer breakouts, feel soft and supple, almost never react to skincare products, and no enlarged pores.

Management of Normal Skin

If you have this type of skin, then you are pretty lucky! But just remember that you still will have those days when you get a bit of a dry area, or the odd pimple. So it’s good to keep up with a good face routine. Anything really goes with Normal Skin. You can head to your local make-up bar or day spa to get a nice routine. Just always remember to be sun smart as well. Cosmetics like tinted moisturizers will work great on your skin, and even better with SPF 15+

Oily Skin

You may of noticed a lot of areas on your skin that are intensely shiny, or even when your skin feels greasy even after washing several times. Your skin will be prone to breakouts and blackheads and have visible open pores. This is when your skin produced oil called sebum, and well... it produces a heck of a lot of it! Resulting in those nasty pimples!

Management of Oily Skin

It is important to keep your skin feeling hydrated! This is because if the skin is deprived of hydration, then it will try to produce further sebum to protect the skin. Use a water based Moisturizer or ones that are formulated for Oily Skin to help this. It is important to avoid oil stripping products. They will have high alcohol content. These make the skin feel fresh in the short term, but will make the problem worse in the long term. And also try to not over-wash the skin too much as this will stimulate the skin to produce extra sebum!

Product I Recommend for Oily Skin

Matifying Primer, Products with Silica, as this will absorb oil. Look for it in Foundations, Primers and Powders, Mineral Powder Foundations, Oil-Free Make-up and moisturizers

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin will tend to feel itchy or bumpy, look flaky or red, flare up when you use products containing allergens such as fragrance or lanolin and burn easily in the sun.

Management for Sensitive Skin
Use hypoallergenic skincare that is specially formulated for sensitive skin, avoid harsh products that contain Alcohols and Perfumes. Choose soothing agents like Aloe Vera and Camonmile. Don't use harsh exfoliants, like beaded formula's. Try organic products or mineral/natural ranges. (trick is to ask for testers. Trial before buy as your skin may hate it!)

Products I recommend

Stick to brands such as Lancôme and Estee Lauder as they make fragrance free products. Also products with mineral/natural ingredients. Like Nude By Nature.

Dry Skin

It is obvious when the skin is dry as it will begin to look flaky and dull. You will feel tightness, especially after washing, and have a zombie like look, noticeable around the eye area.

Management for Dry Skin

The key is to hydrate the skin. Drink more water throughout the day, and use products with a high water content. Also to keep touching up throughout the day with a water-based moisturizer as a barrier against moisture loss!

Products I recommend

Creme Blush instead of powders, Tinted Moisturizers, and Oil-Based Products. Steer clear of powders and heavy cosmetics as they will draw attention to dry areas and fine lines.

Combination Skin

Don't panic if you aren't entirely one for the things about. You may have oily and dry skin, or oily and sensitive skin. It can vary, and different area's of the face may need different attention.

Skin can act differently in different area's. One of the most common for of Combination Skin is an oily T-Zone and Dry everywhere else. For me I have a dry forehead, sides of the nose and chin. When it comes to combination skin, the key is to treat different area's differently. Use different skin care products on different areas. You may have a few extra bottles of skin care on the counter, but you will have better results if you treat the areas separately.

And here is what I brought from Efragrance! Should be here soon, so I am excited!! :) x

As the range of Foundations and Colours advance, so does the lack of knowledge in choices by the average customer. So I'm here to tell you how to ensure the right match and colour!

One of the hardest thing with a foundation is to match a colour to your skin type.

One of the easiest things to do (and it's free) is to quickly zip down to your local Beautician/Salon and ask her/him what they suggest for you to look for when buying your next foundation.

And seriously, they aren't that scary, and they wont judge your amount of knowledge. To be honest, they love the feeling that someone needs them.

But for those of you that may be finding things a little too busy to do this, here are a few tips for you!

Never... ever... ever... test your foundation on the back of your hand or your jawline! The jaw line is in fact the lightest part of the face and if you test there then apply to the face, you will look white like a ghost.

To test the colour of a foundation, it is best to test on the side of the nose, blending into the cheek. As this is where you start with foundation on the face, blending outwards. It is pretty easy to tell if you have the wrong colour, as you will start to look Orange, or really white. Always test the colour of a Foundation in Natural Light, as artificial light can be misleading.

When buying a Foundation, never buy a darker colour so that you look more "tan" as you will actually look Orange! If you want to look tan, invest in a nice bronzer as you will look a nice Golden brown and more natural as opposed to, well.. ORANGE!

Don't forget that skin tones change between summer and winter, and you should change your foundation accordingly. Or buy two different tones and mix foundation throughout the year.

Different types of skin, need different types of Coverage. There are different types of Foundation coverage to suite different types of skin. Right from good Clear Skin, to Problem Skin.

Clear Skin:

Good clear skin will only need the lightest of coverage. Liquid Sheer Foundation or a Tinted Moisturizer will cater well for this skin type. This is just to even out skin tone and to add radiance to the skin.

The Odd Blemish:

Sometime we get that odd pimple or scar. If your skin is still an even tone, with the odd spot, a good concealer paired with a liquid foundation or creme-to-powder formula will be suitable for this skin type.

Problem Skin:

With problem skin, it needs a little more attention in the Foundation field. A Creme or stick foundation will offer a good coverage to hide all the blemishes.

Nothing sums the different type of textures than this extract from Jemma Kidd's Make-Up Masterclass Book.

"Check the ingredients and select the correct formulation for your skin with added vitamins and moisturizers. Choose talc-free foundation that soaks in easily - nothing with a thick , powdery finish. A moisturizing foundation is essential for dry skin, where-as an oil free, matte finish is ideal for oily skin. Mature women need a little shimmer in their foundation to bring light to their skin, but anyone with scarring or acne should avoid light-reflecting particles as they can emphasize blemishes. A light-coverage liquid foundation is best for normal skin and a tinted moisturizer is perfect for summer"

If you're using this foundation I recommend you to maintain your brushes well. As after a few uses I noticed that the foundation had stained the bristles of my Brush. Not happy Jan!

I found this foundation to seep into hidden lines in the skin and create very ugly lines across the skin. It definitely didn't have the flawless finish my mate told me that I would achieve.