Monday, October 15, 2012

Sometimes Curves Need a Little Love

I have been thinking about doing this blog for a long time. I hope it helps some people and doesn’t offend others. I would consider myself a big girl. I have put a lot of weight on over the last couple of years. Mostly due to illness however I have now decided to take my body back and whip myself back into shape.


One thing there is a huge lack of online is how to look after your skin when you’re a big girl how do you protect it when you lose weight. How do you make sure you don’t damage it when you put on weight and how do you stop it from looking dull. Here are some hints and tips that I have picked up over the last little while and what products have really helped me.

So I have put on about 3 stone in 2 years. My body has changed in ways I really wished it hadn’t. My skin needs so much more care and attention that it did 2 years ago!

For my face I used a really good serum every day, I use a moisturiser with sun factor and use a throat gel. I used Estee Lauder Products which I love and Gatineau throat gel which is amazing however what every product you use and are comfortable with will work for you. I will say you will need to use these every day or twice a day what you are trying to do is keep your skin firm. Anything with collagen and vitamin E is great.

I used a massage sponge to wash along with a dry body brush. Either of these products is great for getting your circulation and getting rid of tired dead skin! I don’t use anything terribly expensive only dove however I do use Bio Oil every day before I get out of the shower. I have noticed a huge changed in my skin it positively glows. If Bio Oil doesn’t suit there are many other similar products on the market. What is important is to keep the skin supple and stop stretch marks before they start. I like Bio Oil as it doesn’t stay greasy once you towel dry. It treats stretch marks and scars as well as prevents them, it balances skin tones and it smells lovely too! Like with any of the above you need to do this step every day. I promise after a couple of weeks you’ll see big changes. I treat my hair daily to Argan Oil and get my hair cut regularly. There is no point in looking after all of you and leaving your hair out. Plus if you’re a little depressed about your weight (and I have been there) having good hair is a start!

One of the biggest challenges has to be boobs! They normally get fecked with this kind of weight gain and loss. I have been using palmers bust cream and it is fab! It’s a bit claggy putting it on but then it dry fine. If you notice that your chest has started to crepe then I would recommend a night time bra. They look interesting but they do work or so I’m told for me I just use a crazy amount of cream and bio oil! However the biggest help is a good bra, the best place for service is Bravissimo! Irish girlies if you get a chance to visit one please do!

Other things that really help my skin are cutting down on coffee, which causes cellulite, drinking plenty of water and really cutting down on the auld vino! I also take supplements for my skin along with vitamins too! All of these have stopped my skin from sagging or wrinkles setting in. I try not to eat anything with tonnes of sugar in like cereal or too many sweeties! I try to rest and sleep well and some exercise never goes amiss!

I have decided to lose some of this weight however not too much as I like to fill a pencil skirt and you can’t do that if you’re toast rack! However big girls and little girls, our body’s do need some love! I will keep you up to date with how I’m getting on but for now I just wanted to impart a little of my hard earned knowledge of being a big girl and how I look after my skin! Hopefully it will give someone some confidence to do the same!

Bliss Spa - does what it says on the tin!

Hi there,


After saying I was going to do a blog on hygiene which wasn’t a very nice story I decided to do a quick review on a great company I visited on Friday.

I was booked into Bliss Spa in London to have a pedicure. When I arrived they had messed up my treatment. So to make it up to me they ushered me into another treatment room to have a facial an expensive one that at. So I had the Oxygen Blast facial which was quick but wow my skin feels great.

And when I checked my mails this morning there was a mail from the manager checking me in for another pedicure all of the above was free of charge. This to me is great customer service. Any time I have dealt with Bliss in the past it has been really consistent.

I have done a blog before on Bliss products and I can’t really add it them only to say I still love them if not just a little bit more now.

http://www.blissworld.co.uk/ check them out – yes they are pricey but they do work wonders! Also they have great deals around Christmas!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Fresh Start

So after too long not doing this I have decided to take up blogging again.  My first blog tomorrow will deal with the problem of hygiene and what i've seen in pro stores recently!

Till them! :) x

Monday, October 11, 2010

Illamasqua ...... again :)

Another quick one about Illamasqua - I had my make up done by Mika of Illamasqua on Saturday. Mika is one of the head make up artists having designed the dystopia range last year.

Firstly he knew my name when I approached the counter. He was kind, funny and polite during my appointment. He spend about an hour with me and even though it was a little more expensive it was so worth it and secondly I got 3 products back and eyelashes for what I paid. I’m a bit of stickler for customer service and getting what you pay for and I was not disappointed at all.

I have always been impressed by the Illamasqua staff, they are very approachable and so helpful. I haven’t had this same kind of experience with other high end make up counters. I was lucky enough to meet Alex Box earlier this year you can see that her passion for her brand and what it delivers shines through into the rest of the team.

My favourite in BT2 is normally Jenny who is wonderful and has amazing skills.

I would recommend having your face done here as it’s all redeemable against products and only costs €25

I totally forgot to take a picture - :(

Art of Darkness - Illamasqua

Gosh I haven’t done this in a while.

Illamasqua have recently launched their Autumn/Winter collection “ Art of Darkness”. All I can say is every product in this range is amazing. I am a huge fan of Illamasqua and all of their products but this one has blown me away.

The colours are so rich and yet the products are so versatile. I have bought almost all of the range as I don’t wear nail polish and I have had a good play with them all. There is something so evocative about this range. In my opinion this is the bravest range so far.

The pigments are amazing they are so packed with sparkle and colour (however this is true of all of Illamasqua’s pigments).


I love love love the new colourful Liquid Metals and adore the new palette. These products are again very versatile. They can and should be used everywhere and should be seen more as a medium range than a specific item of make up. Three of these can be bought separately too.



I also got the Precision Ink in Alchemy which is the most amazing eye liner I own. It’s pure gold so bright and wonderful to use. I have been waiting a long time for a liquid liner from Illamasqua and I’m sure many Illaminions have - they haven’t disappointed.

Another new product to be launched in this range is the Powdered Metal in Ether, I can’t say enough about this all over powder which leaves a fabulous gold sheen on your skin. I love building this with a couple of applications over the arms and collar bone area.


However my favourite products are the Lipstick and Lip gloss. The lipstick is an amazing deep navy colour with a matt finish and can be layered with the blue liquid metal or the fab blue pigment in this range.


This lipgloss looks like patent cherry leather. It’s simply just amazing.


The marketing and packaging is just amazing, it’s so wonderfully dark, edgy and sexy.

Go and have a root around in BT2 on Grafton Street.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The most important thing in my kit are my brushes with out them I’d be lost. They are what give the finish you are looking for.

Now there are lots of brushes out there. I have lots of them and I use them all for different things and I no doubt will continue to buy them through out my career.

If you are starting off or if you just need a really simple brush set then I will let you in on a couple of little secrets.

Crown Brushes - This company as far as I can tell make brushes for all the big companies such as MAC etc. I have heard of places charging €190 for the badger brush get and you can get it for a fraction of that from this site. The brushes are good however some of them in a set may leave you wondering what on earth are they for.

Crown brushes is a great company even if you are just looking to get your first set. I would recommend the Badger set to anyone. It has everything you need. However in saying that you can pick and choose what brushes you like.

http://www.crownbrush.co.uk/shop/brush-sets/619-black-faux-snake-skin-sable-set.html

This is a lovely kit with everything that you could need, the only fault I can find with this company is that their foundation brushes are not great. I have also not tried any other products that they have so I can’t comment on them at all.

http://www.crownbrush.co.uk/





AOFM Brush Set - AOFM is a make up agency and academy in London. The pro brush set they have put together is AMAZING …. No really!!

24 usable brushes and a brush belt for £98 (exluding p&p). I love this set. If you are a pro make up artist you will use this set if you are someone who likes pretty things trust me you will also love this set.


http://www.aofmpro.com/?q=node/4

They also have a book on this site too which is a must have for any Pro MUA.

Louise Young - These are amazing brushes a little bit pricey but you get what you pay for with these. I especially love the large foundation brush. No muss no fuss just a great product.









I’m saving the best til last here.

Hakuhodo Brushes are all handmade in Japan they are all so beautiful in saying that though these are extremely expensive for makeup brushes. I can only see Pro MUA’s buying these .

The way these brushes are shaped and designed will give a totally different finish than any other brush in my opinion these are probably some of the best out there on the market.

I am really looking forward to seeing the full collection in IMATS this November.


















http://www.hakuhodousa.com/index.php

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Peeling Groovy


So as promised I have come up with my first product review. This is one of my dessert island products.

This is a great little product. It’s a bit expensive but it does work. I would suggest asking the girls on the Bliss counter in BT’s for a sample first and they are happy to do this. Just to do a patch test.

This is a face peel in a bottle, liquid microdermabrasion. This is suitable for even the most sensitive of skin, it tightens pores and lightens age spots. It mildly exfoliates the skin while resurfacing it.

So how do you use it. Well you just put in on evenly before you go to bed under your normal skin care. Hey Presto you wake up with lovely skin.

Now as this does have acid in it and it is friendly skin lovin acid you will need to wear a moisturiser with an SPF the next day.

This is a great product and I promise you will see huge differences in a couple of days.

Remember to do a patch test with all new products before using them.