Fashion Week Inspired Look

I recently shared a few videos about a Fragrance Direct haul and with London fashion week just having passed us by, I wanted to create a look inspired by some of the makeup we saw on the runway.


From bold and graphic to vibrant pops of colour & of course the signature glossy supermodel skin!



Vogue London Fashion Week 2017 Images

For my look, I wanted to create something with a strong lean towards the graphic liners we saw but with a slightly more wearable feel.








There were strong feline focus' to the eyes, with some looks being imperfectly smudged out to give that lived in feel. 
I decided to go with a classic winged liner pulled in at the inner corners to extend the look of the eye and smudge the top into the gorgeous two-dimensional pigment by Glo & Ray called More Electric £12.90 I also picked up the shade 'Goldmaniac' which I used to create a lip art that you'll soon see later on in this post. This pigments are absolutely stunning and go on very smoothly, I just loved how they reflected under lighting, picking up all the different colours present.

Glo & Ray Pigment - More Electric, Glo & Ray Pigment - Goldmaniac

Now for the liners, we have the Maybelline Master Gel Liner in brown £2.50
I loved that this came with a precise liner brush and a sponge tip smudger..all for under £3, what more could you want?! 

Maybelline Lasting drama gel liner - Brown

I love starting with a brown as a 'liner base' then blending the black into it - concentrating your application of the black at the base of the liner shape. This gives a softer more earthy feel to a smudged liner look and the transition is more forgiving on paler skin tones. 
For the main black liner, I found a gel formula coming in at just under £4 by Calvin Klein beauty - I couldn't believe that for that price it came with a full sized brush!

Calvin Klein Beauty

Now during the countless hours that you can spend on a site like this, I came across two brush sets that I thought would make fabulous all-around starter kits for all you makeup lovers. With brushes, I'm quite fussy and only go with brands that I'm familiar with, I jumped for joy when I found this brush set by Royal & Langnickel at half price for £8.95 - a brand that I trust and already have countless brushes from in my professional kit.

Royal & Langnickel Moda Beautiful Eyes brush set.

The brush labelled 'Smokey Eye' was perfect for diffusing the shape of the liner and getting that smudged effect.

Royal Contour brush set, Royal & Langnickel Moda Beautiful Eyes brush set.

After achieving your runway ready eyes the next step is getting that perfectly sculpted & glowing skin.
To achieve this you need a good set of dense buffing brushes to make sure that your foundation & contour is thoroughly blended in and looking flawless. I found this stunning set by Royal for only £6.99 - the set included a handy blending sponge too!

Royal contour brush set, L'oreal infallible sculpt, Nars frenzy dual intensity blusher.

For contouring, I love to use cream based products as they simply blend more seamlessly and are more forgiving on drier skin types or those who may have textured skin- where powder based products may go patchy. I found this kit by loreal called Infallible sculpt £4.99, which I have used and featured here on my blog previously. The cream has a lovely thin consistency so you will not struggle to blend it in - this also makes it easier to build up to the intensity of your preference.

For Blush and highlight these stunning dual intensity blushes by Nars £30, caught my eye, the shade Frenzy in particular, as it has a highlighter and blush in one conveniently sized product. 

To complete this look you want a striking lip colour - taking the feel from the Dolce & Gabbana look but going for a drastically deeper tone to be more in keeping with autumn lip colour trends. I decided upon the pure matte lipstick by Nars in the shade Volga £21. A lovely creamy formula with a handy shaped applicator that is more precise than the traditional lipstick bullet shape.

Nars Volga Lipstick

Then for fun, I also wanted to do an interesting lip art inspired by some of the graphic lips we saw on the runway, including love heart/petal detailing using the Glow & Ray pigment in 'Goldmaniac' mentioned previously, mixed into a clear gloss - I actually used the brush that came with the Maybelline liner to achieve this as it was very firm and perfect for achieving those crisp lines.



Lastly, I picked up a fragrance. I always like to switch up my perfume at this time of the year. I love Euphoria by Calvin Klein - Described as having dark exotic floral notes - this is perfect for those who, if like me, do not particularly enjoy sweet fruity scents, preferring something that's alluring & feminine but with a richer feel. 
This wears beautifully - at first spritz you're hit with the floral & fruity notes. Top notes include pomegranate & Japanese apple, heart notes reveal hints of lotus flower & black orchid then at the base, we have the notes that give this perfume its 'weight' including mahogany and Amber.
I picked up the 100ml Size for £39.95 saving £30 off the high street RRP.


& that's everything!

I hope you enjoyed the more creative direction of this post - I love referencing fashion week looks as they're always more out of the box and interesting to look at. We can all keep on trend with the looks you see by simply being inspired by them and challenging yourself to create more wearable versions or just having fun replicating them because that is what makeup is all about!



Thank you for taking the time to read this post. As always, if you need any further help with this look or just want some makeup advice feel free to contact me!



JLo Glow Inspired Makeup Look


Today's post will be a product breakdown of a popular look I uploaded onto my Instagram a little while ago.

Highlighted Skin

Glowing, radiant skin is something that most people, regardless of age, long for.
For this look, there was a heavy focus on creating a gorgeous bronze highlighted skin with a 'lit from within' feel. 
To create it I applied thin layers of a few different illuminating products, as you want different intensities of highlight on particular areas of the face.

Prep Step 
Prep the skin thoroughly with your favourite face wash - preferably exfoliate if there is any texture present & add a thin layer of your favourite lotion /cream. Let this sink in...have a coffee ;)

Get Lit
Now the fun begins, I like to prep the skin with an illuminating lotion (creams sit too heavily on my oily skin) product suggestions from high end, low end and everything in between include: 
Becca shimmering skin perfector, Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow, L'oreal true match highlight, Rimmel Good to glow, Clarins flash balm

in whichever shade suits your skin tone best, I like to use Soho Glow or Piccadilly Glow

I love Golden glow - there is an alternative to this cream with a little bit of coverage to help warm up your complexion which is the L'oreal Glam Bronze GG cream which I found on the Fragrance Direct site for only £4.99 

I adore Opal

Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow £38.50
Gorgeous skin in a bottle, dahling!

Lastly, if you prefer a product that gives you a little pick me up that doesn't rely on reflective pearl pigments or shimmers to give you a glow you could try cult product: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm £31

Ultimately, there are a plethora of choices to suit whatever your budget may be so I would recommend shopping around and swatching formulas to ultimately determine which you like the texture & finish of best.

Next, apply your foundation, my personal suggestion would be something with a thin consistency to allow the glow to show through from the liquid illuminator. I love the Invisiwear Foundation by EX1 Cosmetics £12.50. It has a gorgeous glowing finish that isn't too shiny, is medium coverage and sits comfortably on the skin.

Definition Is Key
When adding definition to a look like this I love to work with creams as they blend beautifully, give a softer finish & you can create that gorgeous warm halo around the perimeters of the face, that Jennifer is known for, without it sitting too heavily or being distinctly detectable


Tom Ford shade & illuminate, Lord & Berry contour palette,L'oreal infallible sculpt, Sleek cream contour palette, Benefit Hoola quickie contour stick

I love the convenience of the Benefit Quickie Hoola Stick £23.50

Sleek palettes offer a versatile range of shades with their cream contour palettes £10.99 (currently on sale in Superdrug for £8.99)

I found the L'oreal infallible sculpt palette at a steal for £4.99 on fragrance direct & whilst I was there also found a handy contour palette by lord & berry £25 that includes a blush as well as concealer and bronzer shades.

On the higher end side of things I adore the Tom Ford shade and illuminate palette £58, this cream is not full coverage so blends out beautifully and discreetly, making it first timer friendly- if it suits your budget.

To Set Is To Stay
For a look like this I like to only set the t-zone and under eye area, this helps keep the look as glowing as possible and retains the effect of all of that skin prep. I use a damp beauty blender sponge and work a small amount of powder into the skin with firm pressing motions.

If you wanted this to last all day you would need to set your entire face but please note this will obviously take the glowy effect down a notch. 
I love spraying a healthy amount of MAC Fix+ for the glow factor after powder. A setting spray will soften the flat look of powder & help it look more 'skin like'.

Dress to Impress
To 'dress up the face' as I like to say, use your favourite bronzer/blush.. or both! If doing both, try to choose a tone of blush that is in keeping with the feel of this look. So, depending on your skin tone, opt for peaches, apricots or oranges.


MAC Peaches, Sleek Life's a peach, Bourjois tomette, Nars Frenzy blush
MAC Peaches £19.50
A fresh uplifting shade that really adds life to your look.

Sleek Life's A Peach £4.99
Purse friendly & pigmented, a little goes a long way!

Bourjois Tomette £5.99
No Longer available but found at a steal of a price on Fragrance Direct, so grab now before it's gone forever. It has a Gorgeous creamy powder texture that has a slight shimmer.

Nars Frenzy £30
If you want to splurge, this is stunning. On one side a gorgeous warm blush, the other, a gleaming highlight. Use shades alone or mix together.

You're On My Glow'dar
For a look with serious glow factor, I like to layer different highlighting products. I have been loving Barry M's Liquid Chrome highlight drops recently, they are insanely pigmented and sit beautifully on the skin.With 6 shades to choose from, find the one most appropriate for your colouring. I personally use the shade Liquid Fortune

Now you could stop here, but if you're after that ethereal glow you can apply a powder highlight on top to intensify the effect. 

Some of my favourites include:
MAC Oh Darling, Sleek Cleopatra's Kiss, Benefit Dandelion twinkle, The Balm Mary Lou Manizer

MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish Oh, Darling! £24.50
This cult favourite is sure to have you seen from a mile off - if you find this shade too gold have a look at their other shades, there are 7 in total.

Sleek Cleopatra's Kiss Palette £9.99
This palette is both stunning & versatile. Including both cream & powder highlighters.

Benefit Dandelion Twinkle £24.50
A soft, baked highlighter which goes on smoothly & sits beautifully on the skin giving it an angelic quality.

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer £19.99
Another cult product, This highlighter is slightly less gold than MAC's Oh Darling, making it more suitable for paler skin tones. This is a personal favourite of mine.


 Highlighted Skin

All Eyes On You
For my eyes, I kept it simple as the real star of the show for this look was the skin. A palette with matte warm neutral tones will work best. 
Start with a mid-tone warm brown into the crease for soft definition and add a soft swipe of a shimmery nude/your highlighter onto your lids. I find that a slightly deeper tone works best as if you go too light your eyes will look washed out & small. Lashings of your favourite volume-building mascara to complete.
Huda Beauty rose gold palette, ELF Mad for matte palette 2, Urban Decay Naked Heat
I love Huda Beauty's Rose Gold Palette (£56) I get so much use out of it, for both natural day and glamorous evening looks.Grab it now before it's gone as apparently it's limited edition.

For those on a budget, ELF has you covered. The colours in the new Mad for matte palette 2 (£12.50) are bang on trend.

This release pretty much broke the internet. Urban Decay did it again with their Naked Heat Palette £39.50.Intensely pigmented & blendable, my new go-to.

& That's all folks! 
As always, I hope you enjoyed reading the post. Please do let me know if you try this look & feel free to ask any questions if you need help!

PS.
Fragrance Direct has an extra 10% off today only until 10 pm, so I've linked a few products to their site, they now stock some amazing high-end brands like Nars and Sisley Paris so make the most of this discount & stock up on those gems- use the code: FLASHTEN at the checkout..you're welcome ;

Spectra Carbon Peel At Premier Laser & Skin Clinic

After having such a great experience with my hydra facial at Premier Laser & Skin Clinic in Notting Hill, I went back to try a new treatment, highly recommended by the staff at the clinic.


The Spectra Carbon Peel is a laser-based facial that promises a broad range of benefits including:
  • Evening the Skin Tone
  • Improvement of pigmentation
  • Reduction of pore size
  • Helping to combat inflammation & redness
  • Controlling excess sebum production
  • Helping to restore damaged skin
As someone who has oily skin prone to blemishes & also suffers from pigmentation as a result of breakouts, this sounded like a fantastic fit for the needs of my skin.

What To Expect
To begin, protective eyewear will be popped on & after a thorough cleansing of the skin, a black photo enhancer lotion is applied; the practitioner explained that the laser targets the area in which this lotion is applied due to its colour.

A few passes of the laser will be performed, this heats up the pores & helps eliminate any active acne. The laser vaporizes the lotion and lightly ablates the top layer of dead skin. This process can be clearly seen in the video & is quite satisfying to watch! The practitioner repeats this process 3 times for optimal results.

What Does It Feel/Sound Like?
Expect to feel concentrated heat where the laser makes contact with your skin. It may feel uncomfortable at times but in my opinion, it never hurts.
Some of the equipment will be loud at certain points with beeping sounds. This isn't a relaxing massage based facial it is more time efficient and results focused!

How Long Does It Take? What Is The Downtime?
I was surprised at how quickly the facial was performed, I was in and out in approximately 45 minutes! & with minimal downtime, this would make the perfect pre occasion facial, no wonder it's a favourite amongst celebrities!

With my personal experience, for the rest of the day, I followed the practitioner's advice and did not wear makeup. I really wanted to just let my skin rest to really make the most of the treatment. I didn't experience much redness at all, I may have felt & looked a little bit flushed,  effects similar to that of a good workout session, so nothing that would make you feel self-conscious on the way home.

What Results Did You Experience?
 In the week following the facial, day by day, my skin was looking more even & upon close inspection in the mirror, I definitely noticed a big improvement in the appearance of the texture of my skin and the size of my pores. I always have realistic expectations when it comes to facials and never expect miracles, so whenever I see significant results it's always a welcome surprise.

Verdict?
I definitely see why this facial is so popular and would without a doubt return for another session as I believe the results were worth it! 
I am a huge fan of peels in general and do regular acid-based peels which can sometimes cause dryness, tightness & if at a particularly high concentration cause flakiness, which is obviously very inconvenient, so to have a treatment that gives the same if not better results without the downtime gets a big thumbs up from me!

If you are interested in experiencing this facial for yourself I highly recommend visiting Premier Laser Clinic's website to find your nearest located clinic & read up in detail about the procedure. If you are unsure whether you are suitable for this facial I would recommend booking in for a free consultation to speak to a trained professional and establish the best treatment plan for the needs of your skin- I've always found the ladies there to be very helpful and informative in regards to any questions I had.

As an exclusive benefit to my readers, please feel free to quote my name (Gina Faria) for an exclusive £25 off your first treatment! & 
If you wish to commit to a series of treatments they offer discounts when you book in bulk.

As always, thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed the post! Until next time.